Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a growing issue affecting thousands of children and young people under 18 in England every year. CSE has a devastating impact on children, young people and their families and it should be a concern for everyone. It is largely a hidden crime, and raising awareness of this type of abuse is essential to preventing it and stopping it early when it does happen.
The project aims are:
- To raise young people’s awareness of child exploitation; giving them the support they need to make informed, safe choices and to have appropriate, healthy and safe relationships.
- To invest time to build relationships with young people, give support for as long as it’s needed and use innovative tools and activities to help young people explore their relationships.
- To support young people to engage in a group work programme that enables young people to establish support from peers and access local services.
The programme is aimed at young people aged 13 to 17 (up to 25 for care leavers and young people with learning difficulties and/or learning disabilities). Young people should be identified as potentially at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, and/or showing signs of the indicators of vulnerability to CSE.
Delivery of the programme is through our local district teams. The programme can be tailored for both male and female groups, and groups can be single sex or mixed gender.
Are you a parent, carer or professional who knows a young person who could benefit from our support? Have they previously gone ‘missing’, been involved in risky behaviours including substance use or unsafe sex, have low self-esteem or involvement in inappropriate relationships? You can contact us or refer them to this programme here:
Our local team will arrange to speak with the young person and find out more about how we can help them and what’s locally available to them.
Hertfordshire County Council has launched a new website to tackle child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Hertfordshire. You can view it here: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/cse.
