What We Do?
Barnardo's SECOS Project was established following research conducted in 1998. In that year the project made contact with 70 young people being exploited through prostitution aged 12 – 21 years.
We identified that:
- the average age for young women sexually exploited and becoming abused through prostitution in Middlesbrough was between 12 and 13 years.
- 97% had run away from home/local authority care
- 86% had experienced child abuse
- 77% reported that this was sexual abuse
- 87% were involved in drug misuse
- 53% engaged in self harming behaviour
The young people’s descriptions of how they entered into sexually exploitative relationships and prostitution was common in that they revealed a process of being groomed, introduced, guided and coerced by an abusing adult who was also often their drug dealer and/or boyfriend.
The project recognises the holisic needs of the young people coming to the project and from the research it was evident that the main areas for work were around:
- issues of abuse
- homelessness
- drug and alcohol use
- sexual health emotinonal and general well being
- missing from home
SECOS works closely and collaboratively with South Tees LSCB, Children Families and Learning (social services) Middlebrough PCT and Cleveland Police to provide support and protection for young people.
We work within the Every Child Matters Framework (ECM) focussing specifically on the outcomes of Stay Safe and Be Healthy
Services we offer
A day service for young people
This service includes one-to-one support, including child protection crisis intervention, and the provision of a safe space which includes showering, cooking and laundry facilities. We have close links with GUM , drugs& alcohol, mental health and housing services and can support in our referrals across to these other agencies.
An outreach service
We deliver evening Outreach services into non-residential areas bed and breakfasts and unsupported accomodation where young people and vulnerable adults are located. The Outreach service provides an opportunity to engage young people in conversation and assessment about issues affecting them including sexual health, drug and alcohol misuse general health & welbeing, and experiences of exploitation violence and abuse
Art and activity groups
A series of day and evening group work facilities are held where a variety of activities are offered including, arts and crafts, poetry, film production and photography. looking at issue based activities such as sexual health, safe sex and relationships,bullying and coersion drugs and alcohol awareness. The aim is to offer opportunities for success and a sense of achievement to help build self-esteem and raise awareness of issues that effect their lives
Vulnerable adults case work, drop-in, drugs and alcohol service
SECOS works in collaboration with Middlesbrough Drug Action Team and provides individual case work and care planning support and assessment to vulnerable adults exploited through prostitution We encourage vulnerable adults to access support re their drug or alcochol misuse and emotional wellbeing in order to exit and recover from this lifestyle. We work with vulnerable adults within the community involved in both 'on street' and 'off street' prostitution including those operating from brothels
Missing from Home
As part of The Safer Middlesbrough Partnership Prostitution, Exploitation and Trafficking (PET) theme group SECOS has develop a new initiative to engage and protect missing from home young people which works closely with Cleveland Police and Middlesbrough Common Assessment Framework locality teams (CAF)
We arrange independant home visits to complete Pre/Full CAF assessment with families to identify issues and solutions for their son or daughter when a running away or missing from home episode has occured and been reported to the Police
Young men and boys
The Northern Rock Foundation has recently supported the funding of a male worker specifically to develop services for young men and boys being sexually exploited through prostitution. This person aims to investigate ways to contact and provide case work and protective services to a hidden population of young men and boys who are being exploited within the Tees Valley area.
Training and education
Young people are often in a position where they are unable to tell someone about the exploitation that they are experiencing, or for other young people they do not perceive their exploitation as anything other than normal. By working with other professionals and young people themselves our 'Protecting Self and Keeping Safe' educative work in schools and youth services can aid in the protection and identification of young people who are at risk or being sexually exploited and therefore hopefully enables the young person to leave that situation and recover from its impacts. We currently deliver child protection training on Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Trafficking for South Tees LSCB,.Sunderland LSCB and Gateshead LSCB If you are interested in our service working alongside your team to raise the issue, please contact us.
Policy and protocol development
In order to respond effectively to young people being sexually exploited through prostitution, policies and protocols have been developed locally that reiterate that these young people should be treated within Child protection and that they are the victims of crime rather than the perpetrators of it. The experience and knowledge that SECOS has gained through the support of these young people has enabled the service to advise and support in the development of these policies both locally and nationally. It has also highlighted the need to keep these policies alive through constant revision and the training of professionals.
Why not find out more about us? Download our annual report here
