A new educational resource for children, covering the early warning signs of exploitation, healthy relationships, and what to do if someone asks them to do something they don’t want to do, has been launched by the Pan-Staffordshire Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education Service, in partnership with Catch22.
Staffordshire Deputy Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime David Evans is co-chair of the Violence Reduction Alliance. He said: “Preventing and protecting is one of the key priorities in the Commissioner’s Police & Crime Plan, so I am pleased to see two services commissioned by the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office working together to educate children on the signs of exploitation.
“Exploitation is a crime that affects vulnerable people, including children. It can turn a young person and their family’s lives upside down with devastating consequences. The resource created by the PSHE Education Service and Catch22 is a fantastic addition in helping to educate children across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent on the risks and signs of exploitation.”
Child Criminal Exploitation occurs when an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person to commit criminal acts. Exploitation does not always involve physical contact, but can also occur through the use of technology. Signs a child may be being exploited include:
- Skipping school
- Staying out late or overnight
- Unexplained gifts or new possessions
- Using drugs and drinking alcohol
- Friendships/relationships with older adults
- Being secretive
- Significant changes in mood or behaviour
The PSHE Education Service is hosted by Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS). SCVYS Chief Executive Phil Pusey said: “Supporting children and young people with information to understand what makes a relationship healthy and what doesn’t, is vitally important.
“Not only can it help with the decisions they are making now, but it will also positively impact their choices in the future, helping protect them from harm and keeping their friendships healthy”
Catch22 delivers bespoke interventions with children and young people who are at risk of Child Criminal Exploitation, supporting them to recover and stay safe.
Service Manager for the Catch22 Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Child Exploitation service, Nigel Sergeant said: “The new resource forms part of a library which has been developed by the PSHE Education Service and Catch22 and is readily available for teachers to access. The resource library includes packs on a diverse range of topics including gangs, grooming, bullying, and feelings and emotions.
“The more people who have the tools to spot the signs of exploitation, the better communities can safeguard children and young people from exploitation.”
Access the new resource here: https://pshestaffs.com/2501-year-6-exploitation/
