The Children’s Society East
Newsletter ~ Winter 2016
Thanks to funding from The Big
Lottery, Essex Police, the Police and
Crime
Commissioner
for
Essex
November 2015 saw the official launch
of our work around child sexual
exploitation. This 3rd edition of our
newsletter shines the spotlight on this
new service.
The Children’s Society has a long history of
working with vulnerable children. We are
concerned about child sexual exploitation
because we are committed to changing the
lives of the most vulnerable children in
society.
The Children’s Commissioner has reported
that there were 2,409 confirmed victims of
child sexual exploitation between August
2010 and October 2011. This is likely to be
the tip of the iceberg: there are an estimated
16,500 children in England who are
considered to be at high risk of sexual
exploitation.
Thousands of young people are being
sexually exploited in every type of
community across the country. The problem
is growing and we need to stop this right
now.
Sexual exploitation can happen to any child,
but perpetrators will often target those that
are already vulnerable, for example children
in care, those with difficult family lives, drugs
or alcohol problems or with learning
disabilities.
childrenssociety.org.uk
Charity Reg: 221124
The Children’s Society has directly
supported and campaigned on behalf of
victims of sexual exploitation for two
decades. We have seen first-hand that
victims
suffer
serious
harm,
both
immediately and in the long-term. We have
also seen how difficult it sometimes is for
these children to get the support they need,
and the life-changing difference the right
help can make.
Our work with victims of sexual exploitation
supports children through the entire journey;
from identifying that abuse is taking place,
preventing abuse from escalating and
helping them deal with the consequences of
abuse, through to supporting them through
the court process.
Children At Risk of Exploitation
(C.A.R.E) Essex
This new team will be made up of 4
practitioners, a service manager and
volunteer mentors and provides specialist
support to children and young people aged
8-24 years who are victims, or at risk of
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) across
Essex.
Service delivery
 Individual therapeutic work with children
and young people.
 Targeted groupwork for those identified
If you have intelligence regarding a
current or previous child sexual
exploitation risk you should contact
Essex Police by phoning 101, the
number for non-emergency police
inquiries.
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

at risk of child sexual exploitation.
A positive activities programme led by
young people to develop social skills and
confidence.
Advice and guidance for parents and
carers, enabling them to provide safe
environments within the family context.
We also provide signposting and can work
with transitioning families into additional
support where required.
In conjunction with Essex Police and Social
Care we deliver training around child sexual
exploitation and CSE ‘Champion Training’ to
support professionals to identify young
people at risk of child sexual exploitation; as
well as training around
the
engagement
of
victims of child sexual
exploitation. Details of
these events can be
found on the ESCB
website
at
http://bit.ly/1LRht6H
Service Outcomes
Young People at risk and/or involved in CSE
will have;
 improved protection and reduced risk
from physical, emotional and sexual
harm;
 improved emotional well-being and
increased resilience;
 support
from
better
equipped
professionals
leading
to
reduced
numbers of young people who are left
unidentified.
As secondary victims of child sexual
exploitation, parents and carers will have
better access to support, information, advice
and
guidance;
enhancing
familial
relationships.
Making a referral
If you believe a child or young person is at
risk of sexual exploitation for any reason,
you may wish to make a referral.
Referrals are accepted from any agency
and/or individual working with a child, young
person or family. Please note we will ask if
contact has first been made with Essex
Police and Essex Social Care to ensure that
childrenssociety.org.uk
Charity Reg: 221124
safeguarding concerns are managed
through the appropriate channels. The
referral
form
can
be
found
at
http://bit.ly/1NGWtBO and once completed
should be emailed to
CSE.referrals@childrenssociety.org.uk
Funding secured for boys and
young mens worker
We have secured a year’s funding from the
Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver a
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Boys and
young men’s service. The service work to
raise the profile of boys and young men as
victims of CSE to increase recognition and
referrals into services. It will also seek to
ensure that forms and processes are
accessible for boys and young men. If you
are interested in applying for this post
please visit http://bit.ly/1ldtvwF for more
information and to access the application
form. The closing date is 21st January 2016.
Christmas Celebration for Young
Carers
In mid-December members of the team
hosted an event for children living with or
affected by parental substance use. Fifteen
young people aged between 8 and 16 years
attended. The event began with a short
Christingle service hosted by Chelmsford
City Cathedral's Reverend Ivor Moody. Each
young person made their own Christingle
orange before exploring the Cathedral and
it's grounds. Victoria from local restaurant
Henry's Orchard donated all the food and
gave up her time to cook the children a
fantastic Christmas feast. Empty plates all
round! After dinner the young people played
games and relaxed as they started to make
friends with each other.
Presents were
donated
by
Santander, St
Anne's Church
Chigwell
and
The Children's
Society
East.
Every
young
person was able
to go to the tree
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and select three presents as well as being
able to take presents home for any siblings.
This made them really happy knowing they
could return home with a gift for a loved one.
Christmas can be a very difficult time for
young carers, and our thanks go out to all
those who donated time, gifts or money to
enable this event to go ahead.
• Signs and symptoms
• Methods of Use
• Street names
• Brief Interventions
• Legal Highs
• Harm Reduction
• Referral routes/signposting to treatment
and support
Staff support #SeriouslyAwkward
Parliamentary debate
There is a fee of £50 for the day, however
this fee is waived for those attending from
Partnership organisations. The date of the
event will be confirmed towards the end of
February 2016. To register your interest in
attending the first workshop in our new
facility please send an email to
EDAP.Training@childrenssociety.org.uk
Updates from other agencies
On Thursday 17th December) four of our
practitioners from Essex went to Parliament
to watch MPs debate our Seriously
Awkward campaign. The debate has put the
sexual exploitation of 16 and 17 year olds
firmly on the political agenda. For more
information
on
this
visit
http://bit.ly/1LmGwPD
Grand Opening of our on-site
Training Room eagerly anticipated!
As you may know if you've taken a drive
past our premises in Chelmsford over the
last few months; we have been having some
building works carried out. This has seen
the addition of first floor walkway connecting
the outbuilding offices to the main building,
but more excitingly the addition of a new
Training Room on the ground floor. This
new room will also be used to deliver
groupwork and as a meeting space for
partner agencies and professionals.
The first event to be held in the new room is
scheduled to be a one day Basic Drug and
Alcohol Workshop covering:
• Drug categories
• Commonly used substances
childrenssociety.org.uk
Charity Reg: 221124
#EssexLifestyle
Essex County Council is committed to
ensuring Essex residents enjoy good health
and wellbeing. Their new app can provide
instant access to lifestyle referral information
as well as signposting to local support
services. Download the #LifestyleEssex app
- a one stop shop for info & advice on
healthy lifestyle topics. Search and
download on #appstore and #itunes
Changes to mental health services for
young people
All Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health
Services (CAMHS) across Southend, Essex
and Thurrock are now called Emotional
Wellbeing and mental health service
(EWMHS) for children and young people.
They are being provided by NELFT NHS
Foundation Trust. Call 0300 300 1600 to
access the Emotional wellbeing and mental
health service during working hours 9am5pm, Monday to Friday.
Contact Us
The Children’s Society East
114 Springfield Road
Chelmsford
CM2 6LF
t: 01245 493 311
w: www.eypdas.org.uk
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