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WMRSASC

1 week ago

Today is National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day, which aims to highlight the issues surrounding CSE; encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children or children developing inappropriate relationships with other children.

Child sexual exploitation is a difficult issue, many victims do not identify as having been sexually exploited or abused until years after the event when they start to gain a more 'adult' understanding of what has happened to them. Some do not identify as having been exploited or abused as they see themselves as willing participants, not understanding they were manipulated and groomed, and often too young or naive to understand what was happening. Some do understand what has happened or is happening but are scared of what will happen if they tell due to threats made, and they may feel ashamed and worried about the way they will be judged by people.

It is estimated that only a quarter of children and young people that are sexually exploited are 'looked after' or living in care. The majority of victims are living in the home, are not known to social services and come from all areas of the country. Children and young people can be groomed and sexually exploited in many ways; online, through street gangs, in religious environments, and by those in positions of authority including celebrity. The common theme in all cases is the imbalance of power and the control exerted on young people by the exploiter / perpetrator.

At WMRSASC our specialist CSE support service The Branch Project runs throughout Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire. Branch Project Workers are trained CSE support workers. They provide education, intervention and one-to-one support to children and young people (CYP) who are at risk of or have been a victim of CSE.

Please visit our website for more information about The Branch Project: www.wmrsasc.org.uk/the-branch-project-information-for-adults

For more information about CSE Awareness Day please visit www.stop-cse.org/national-child-exploitation-awareness-day

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