if something doesn’t feel right – get in touch

Exploitation can take many forms and if something doesn’t feel right, then it usually isn’t. Abusers use power and control to can manipulate you into situations that you have no control over.

First of all, you need to understand that whatever is happening is not your fault. People who groom and exploit young people are very clever in what they do and it is very easy to not spot the warning signs.

This could be, asking you for nudes, blackmailing you into doing things, like holding packages, meeting people you don’t know, moving drugs, storing weapons, hurting you physically or emotionally, pressurising you into sex with people you don’t know, sexually assaulting you or encouraging you to cut ties with your friends, family or networks such as your school.

Exploitation can look different, but if you feel that something isn’t right, then why don’t you get in touch with us to chat things through.

What is CSE?

Child Sexual Exploitation is a type of abuse. It’s when children of any gender are tricked into performing sexual acts.

At the start, the young person may think they’re in a loving consensual relationship, because they might get gifts, money, status, affection. In reality, they are being groomed and have no choice in what happens to them.

Having gained the child’s trust, abusers can control them through threats and violence. They may force them to have sex with other people and even make them groom other young people for sex.

What is CCE?

County lines is one form of criminal exploitation. It is when criminals befriend children and young people, either online of offline, and then manipulate them into moving and selling drugs. The ‘lines’ refer to mobile phones that are used to control a young person who is delivering drugs, either around their home towns or further afield and across the country.

What is Trafficking?

Trafficking is where children and young people tricked, forced or persuaded to leave their homes and are moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold.

Trafficked children experience many types of abuse and neglect. Traffickers use physical, sexual and emotional abuse as a form of control. Children and young people are also likely to be physically and emotionally neglected and may be sexually exploited and criminally exploited.