What we do
Our vision:
The lives of all our children and young people will be free from sexual exploitation.
Our commitment:
We are a service committed to believing young people.
Our aims:
- to promote greater awareness of, and sensitivity to, children and young people being sexually exploited or who are at risk
- to prevent and minimise the potential for abuse by promoting greater awareness amongst children and young people about the risks
- to protect children and young people from sexual exploitation and support them in exiting the situation
- to collect information on the size and nature of the problem which will assist the development of future strategies.
What is sexual exploitation?
Sexual exploitation means that someone may be forcing a child or young person to have sex or sexual contact with them, or another person or persons. It could also mean having sex or sexual contact in return for money, drugs, somewhere to stay, gifts or favours.
Indicators that a young person may be experiencing sexual exploitation are:
- acquisition of expensive clothes, money, mobile phones or other gifts without plausible explanation
- a significantly older ‘boyfriend’
- phone calls or letters from unknown adults
- persistently missing or returning late
- hanging out in areas known to be used for prostitution
- leaving home in unusual clothing for his or her age
- entering or leaving vehicles driven by unknown adults
- low self-esteem self-harm and other expressions of despair
- inappropriate sexualised behaviour
- physical symptoms, eg sexually transmitted infections, bruising etc.
