rd
Annette Williams
Service Manager

Established in May 2001 to promote the rights and welfare of African children in the UK. Head Office in London, Centre in Manchester, projects in
Yorkshire
Five work areas:
•Awareness Raising
•Information, Education, and Advisory Services
•Advocacy and Policy Development
•Community and International Development
•Family Support

Key Achievements
1. For 13years AFRUCA- Africans Unite Against Child Abuse has been working hard to promote the rights and welfare of
African children in the UK.
2. We also work in partnership with other organisations in
Africa and across Europe.
3. Offices in London and Manchester*
4. AFRUCA works with UK practitioners working with children and in the African community

Key Achievements
5.
Have trained several thousands of African parents nation-wide in basic child protection
6. Working in-depth with over 40 African faith organisations in Yorkshire
& Greater Manchester over 5 years to enhance their child safeguarding policies and practices.
7.
National Training Programme for Practitioners working with Black
African Children and Families
8.
Educating the Community via our range of Safeguarding Products
9.
AFRUCA Foundation for Children in Nigeria
10. Independent Project Evaluation report 2011: “The Work AFRUCA is doing is having a resounding impact on the community”

Key Lessons Learned
1. Community engagement is crucial in order to effect positive changes in the lives of children. No hard to reach community
2. Child abuse linked to culture, tradition and beliefs remains a major concern in relation to the wellbeing and safety of African children
3. Protecting the welfare of African children requires a multiagency, partnership approach, new attitudes, new ways of working at all levels – micro and macro.
4. Most African parents, carers, faith leaders and workers still unaware of child protection and safeguarding issues in the UK
5. Prevention and early intervention strategies work much better in the protection of (African) children.

AFRUCA Centre for African
Children and Families
History of Work in Manchester
• Over 700 African parents trained across North of England from
2009 to 2011 – mostly in Manchester
• Developed strong community support and network of stakeholders as a result of DFES project
• Tudor Trust grant to work with faith groups in Manchester
• Big Lottery Grant to work in Yorkshire from our base in Manchester
(ongoing)
• Big Lottery Grant Family support project

AFRUCA Centre for African
Children and Families
Existing gaps
• Over representation of African children in the child protection system in
Greater Manchester
• The number of Africans residing in the area is increasing. *
• The increase of African faith organisations mainly those related to
Pentecostal and new charismatic churches and related issues. *
• Most African parents, carers, faith leaders and workers in the region still unaware of child protection and safeguarding issues in the UK*
• The skills gap among practitioners working with African children and families.
• No ‘specialist’ assessment and advice centre providing a range of services to African children and families, statutory and non-statutory agencies.
• Safeguarding issues linked to African cultural practices increasing – no
‘strong’ specialist organisation working to address these issues
• Increase in demand for AFRUCA’s services .

AFRUCA Centre for African
Children and Families
Activities/Services
1) Training, Research and Advice
2) Assessment Services
3) Early Intervention & Family Support Services
4) Prevention work in the Community
5) Student placement and learning opportunities
6) Signposting and referral – other services, statutory and non-statutory, local, regional, national, international

AFRUCA Centre for
Children and Families
Current Centre Activities
• Support work with families: mediation, counselling, training, support, sign-posting
• Working with Faith Organisations to Safeguard African Children in Greater Manchester and Yorkshire
• Training for African Parents on Child Protection
• National Training and Advice Programme for Practitioners
• Case Assessments, Cultural Competence, Expert Advice
• Increasing work on Child Trafficking, Assessments and support for victims. Prosecution and Awareness Raising
• Immigration and Family Courts expert reports and assessments
• Our policy work on witchcraft branding is national. Case work is increasing. New pilot project to learn from.
• Student Placements from January 2013

AFRUCA Centre for African
Children and Families
Expected Outcomes
1. Decrease in the number of African children experiencing abuse, exploitation and harm
2. Decrease in the number of African children entering the child protection system and/or with care plans
3. Better intervention and support for families in the child protection system and at the point of breakdown
4. Prevention of child abuse and child deaths
5. Increased knowledge and skills of practitioners
6.
Improved family assessments by children’s services, agencies and the Courts
7. Decrease in number of young offenders of African descent

AFRUCA Centre for African
Children and Families
Email:
www.afruca.org