Calls For Urgent Funding To Help Children Used For Sex
By News Scotland

Barnardo’s will today publish the first long term study of its work with children who have been exploited for sex or groomed for abuse through prostitution.  The study, the first of its kind in the UK, is being launched at a special event which is taking place in Glasgow.  The research found that the young people Barnardo’s helped had often been abused and neglected, but that intensive support could reduce their risk of being sexually exploited and help them achieve positive changes in their lives.

The charity has identified a number of risk factors associated with sexual exploitation including: poor relationships with parents or carers, disengagement from education, going missing, and a lack of awareness of rights and risks. Through regular risk assessments the charity has been able to monitor the progress of a sample of the children it works with.

Speakers at the Scottish launch will include Sheila Ramsay, Head of Children’s Services, Barnardo’s Scotland – Barnardo’s, Daljeet Dagon, Children’s Services Manager at the Glasgow Street Team, Sara Scott, Principal Research Officer, at Barnardo’s who co-wrote the report.  The launch will be chaired by David Comely, Director of Social Work at Glasgow City Council and who is also the Chair of the Glasgow Child Protection Committee.

Barnardo’s runs two projects in Scotland which works with young people who are at risk or are being sexually exploited.  They are the Glasgow Street Team and FACE (Fighting Against Child Exploitation) which is based in Dundee.

The children’s charity’s projects spend £1.6 million from voluntary income on sexually exploited children.  Yet demand is not met. Provision of specialist services is patchy, and getting help therefore depends more on geographical location than on need.  

Hugh Mackintosh, who is the Director, Scotland – Barnardo’s, said: “This is difficult but worthwhile work.  We now know we can help children and young people escape from sexual exploitation by adults. But we know there are many children, in many towns and cities, who are not helped. The Scottish Executive has produced a comprehensive strategy for supporting young people at risk of exploitation through prostitution.  We need every local authority taking forward its recommendations and developing plans for helping this vulnerable group.  We would also call on the Scottish Executive to review its current strategy and check and ensure that every local authority is implementing its recommendations.  We want to see the investment to make it a reality.  Barnardo’s will continue to spend a substantial part of our own money in this area but we cannot do it alone.”

Barnardo’s in Scotland is calling for: –

  • A securely funded UK wide network of community-based services for children who have been sexually exploited.
  • Government to make child protection a policing priority.
  • Local authorities to develop protocols for working with young people at risk of sexual exploitation, as demanded by the Scottish Executive Vulnerable Children and Young People strategy document (see website www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/social/vcyp-00.asp).   
  • The Scottish Executive to review its current strategy and ensure that all local authorities are implementing the recommendations for working with young people who are at risk of sexual exploitation.
  • The Scottish Executive to carry out research to find out the true nature of sexual exploitation among children and young people in the country.