Child exploitation is the manipulation and/or coercion of young people under the age of 18. Children and young people have a right to be safe and should be protected from all forms of abuse. It’s everyone’s responsibility to spot the signs of child exploitation and protect children and young people in Warwickshire.
Exploitation affects hundreds of children and young people every year in Warwickshire. The Police and Crime Commissioner funds a specialist services to both help victims and also provide information to enable everyone to spot the signs.
Barnardo’s Warwickshire Base Exploitation Service
The Warwickshire Base Exploitation service is provided by children’s charity Barnardo’s. They work with children and young people who are abused, or vulnerable to abuse through exploitation.
Barnardo’s works from a trauma-informed perspective providing packages of emotional and practical support. Therapeutic 1:2:1 support is consent based, not time limited and bespoke to meet the needs of the individual child or young person.
Barnardo’s also provide support to parents and carers of children and young people who are victims of abuse through exploitation.
In addition, the service delivers a broad range of training and awareness raising opportunities for professionals from all sectors, parents/carers, and adults who may encounter children and young people through their work, as well as young people.
More ways to get help
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
- Talk to an adult you trust, like a family friend, relative, teacher or another adult.
- Report exploitation to Warwickshire Police via their website or by calling 101.
- Contact Crimestoppers confidentially and anonymously on 0800 555 111.
- Contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, on 01926 414144.
- Contact your local Children and Family Centre.
- Talk to a trained counsellor on the 24-hour helplines run by ChildLine on 0800 11 11 and the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000
Something's not right
Something’s Not Right is a campaign to raise awareness of child exploitation and offer support in Warwickshire.
It encourages people to think about situations they may see or be involved in on a daily basis and if Something’s Not Right seek professional advice and guidance.
