Turning lives around: Jessica's story
Jessica was a child at high risk of sexual exploitation. This is the story of how Barnardo's helped her turn her life around.
My mum wasn’t around anymore, my dad was drinking and my sister was skipping school. I was 15 and got involved with a group of friends outside school – they were older. At first I thought it was really cool to have older friends, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with it – they were drinking and there was a lot of drugs around.
'I was already drinking when I met them – it didn’t bother me. But the drugs were new. I thought, if they were doing it – then it must be okay. There was a lot of peer pressure to get involved. But nothing told me it was wrong. Anyway, at first it was okay – I could get the money from my dad. But after a couple of weeks, I was getting hooked and there wasn’t enough money.
'My new friends said that it was fine and introduced me to a new male friend. They said he fancied me, they said that I should go out with him. I didn’t realise what was happening – I was being set up. After I had slept with him – I realised that I’d be used but it was too late, I was hooked on drugs. The need and the want became more and more.'
Groomed for sexual exploitation
Jessica was 15 – but already all the 'risk' signs were there. She had family problems, was using alcohol and drugs and was staying out at night.
I had family problems. Mum wasn’t on the scene, dad was drinking and my sister had problems at school. The drugs seemed like my only escape. Yes, the situation was frightening – but I didn’t know how I could change things.'
Like many young people, she was unaware of the dangers. Jessica just didn’t realise that she was being 'groomed' for sexual exploitation.
Barnardo's offers support and advice
But at that point a Barnardo’s education worker paid a visit to Jessica’s school. The intention was that the Barnardo's social worker would use the education pack and work with a small group of young people, who had initially been highlighted by the teaching staff. Jessica was selected as part of the group to do a diary project and to talk about the dangers of abusive relationships and the help offered by Barnardo's.
'I hadn’t really thought about my situation before, it had just developed. The school lesson made me think about what was "normal". I didn’t see myself as a victim, but I realised that what was happening to me was wrong and more important – there were people who could help.'
Jessica turns to Barnardo's for help
Alerted to the dangers of her situation, Jessica began to realise that she needed help. But sadly for her there was worse to come.
'My situation had got more and more frightening – then one night I was raped. I didn’t know what to do – I was desperate and had nowhere to go. I couldn’t go home, I couldn’t tell my friends. It was really scary – but I knew I had to do something. I kept thinking about the lesson in school and although I was really frightened I found the address and went to the Barnardo’s project.
'Luckily there was someone working late and they helped me cope. I knew that I didn’t want to live like this anymore. Even then – I knew that the drugs and abuse wasn’t my destiny. So I changed it – with the project’s help'.
Two years on, Barnardo’s have helped Jessica get a place at college, gain qualifications, get a job and find her own place to live. The days of drugs and abuse are firmly in the past and she has made her 'escape' thanks to a lot of determination and the support of the project.