Sexual Exploitation

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology. (Working Together 2018)

The Department of Education has produced  Child Sexual Expolitation guidance  in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and Research In Practice, the full document is also available here

“Say Something” is a 24/7, anonymous helpline, that creates space for young people to share any worries they have about themselves or their friends and will provide support to help them keep safe.

Call or text 116000

Facebook: /SaySomething

Twitter: @SaySomethingIf 

Resources for supporting young people experiencing or at risk of CSE…..

• Barnardos have created a leaflet for young people explaining more about Child Sexual exploitation
• Birmingham & Solihull’s Umberella service has some useful information and specialist services for sexual health concerns. Opening times for sexual health clinics are also available on the Website

For further resources for supporting young people experiencing or at risk of CSE, please click on the Child Sexual Exploitation – Information for Children and Young People section

For resources for supporting Parents or Carers please click on the Child Sexual Exploitation – information for parents or carers section of the website. There is a free interactive education tool for parents/ carers available here

Useful information and Research for Professionals…

• NWG Network provides expert information and further resources about CSE.
• Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMI Probation) carried out joint targeted area inspection focused on child sexual exploitation and published ‘Time to listen’− a joined up response to child sexual exploitation and missing children in September 2016,
• The University of Bedfordshire International Research Centre has lots of training resources and research available about child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking.
• In March 2015 The Open University and Action For Children published a report Beyond Male Role Models: gender identities and work with young men. and the NSPCC, Victim support and The Children’s Society published a tool kit for working with young men
• The Relational Safeguarding Model is a guide produced by Parents Against Child Sexual exploitation (PACE) There is also a leaflet documenting some parents experiences.
• Working Effectively to Address Child Sexual Exploitation: An evidence scope produced by Research in Practice
• The Fixing Child Sexual Exploitation project allowed young people, who had gone on the journey from victim to survivor of child sexual exploitation and abuse, to share their views and experiences in this report
• The centre of expertise on child sexual abuse have publishing five studies on CSE perpetration, the first step in this research programme. The scoping studies identify key findings from existing research and provide new evidence on the characteristics and perspectives of people who sexually exploit young people.
• Marie Collins Foundation and NWG Network have produced an Online Sexual Harm Reduction Guide