Child Sexual Exploitation Workshop [CSE]
Schools and other educational and support services for young people are on the front line in the war against child sexual exploitation and need to be doing everything possible to prevent abuse before it happens.
A 2020 Dreams Child Sexual Exploitation workshop is the ideal vehicle for raising awareness of the issue, helping teachers and students to spot the signs of exploitation, and most important, preventing abuse and making children and young people aware of sources of support.
Recent cases, such as the Rotherham abuse scandal, serve to highlight the vulnerability of children and young adults to sexual exploitation at the hands of manipulative and/or coercive adults. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of exploited children, as much as 80%, are living at home when the abuse happens and not on the radar of social services.
The Signs of Child Sexual Exploitation
The signs of child sexual exploitation can be subtle and (particularly with teenagers) are often similar to those normally exhibited through the growing up process. However, by remaining vigilant and following our instincts we increase our chances of spotting something untoward and intervening before it’s too late. For teachers, some of the signs that should ring alarm bells include:
- Poor attendance
- Defensive behaviour when asked about activities
- Excessive tiredness in class
- Being picked up by an older ‘friend’ or a succession of different adults
- Showing off expensive gifts from friends
- Unexplained cuts and bruises
Through a 2020 Dreams workshop, children will also be made aware of some of the signs that their peers might display, such as:
- Having an older boyfriend
- Wearing more expensive clothes and accessories than before
- Asking for an alibi when skipping school or seeing a ‘friend’
- Bouts of anger, depression or self-harm
Exploitation crosses cultural and class boundaries and can happen to children and young people in any environment and of any gender and sexual orientation.
Engaging Child Sexual Exploitation Workshops from 2020 Dreams
Children at risk of sexual exploitation need a voice and the open forum debate format used in 2020 Dreams workshops are effective in enabling children and young people to speak up, both about their own experiences and when coming together to create solutions for preventing exploitation and for seeking help in escaping abuse.
2020 Dreams workshops also make use of age appropriate role play scenarios to give children and young people the chance to hone their protective skills and develop their understanding of the different ways in which children can become groomed and exploited both by adults and even their own peers.
Why Book a 2020 Dreams Child Sexual Exploitation Workshop Now?
We know from the harrowing stories in the media that child sexual exploitation can start from a very young age so there is really no lower age limit when it comes to educating children about the dangers of forming inappropriate relationships. 2020 Dreams facilitators are sensitive and very experienced when it comes to tailoring workshops to be age appropriate.
As children get older and develop into young adults, the risks of child sexual exploitation increase. That is why 2020 Dreams recommend booking a workshop as soon as possible to maximise the chances of stopping abuse before it happens.
Our workshops are designed to be flexible so if you require the content to be tailored to cater for a specific group please get in touch and we will propose a solution. All of our workshops are fully risk-assessed and our facilitators are DBS-cleared.
Other 2020 dreams workshops that can be tied in with this theme include Sex and Peer Pressure, Sexual Bullying at School, Sexuality and Making Better Decisions and Online Privacy for Children which covers topics such as online exploitation and the sharing of inappropriate images and texts (sexting).
For your reassurance, all 2020 Dreams workshops are fully risk-assessed and our experienced facilitators have all had recent, enhanced DBS checks.
