Help us tackle Grooming & Child Exploitation

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on so many aspects of our everyday life, and there is so much added pressure on so many families at this time. Sadly, it seems the problems our young people are facing is being overlooked.

Grooming, CSE and Serious Youth violence has not gone away, in fact since the lock down there has been numerous serious incidents on our streets some ending in the loss of life, alongside children and young adults constantly reported missing. 

We are currently mentoring and working with 12 young people from across some of the most challenging parts of London.

The goal here is for them to work on the production and making of two short films,  Two of the young people involved are also autistic and through this pandemic are experiencing high levels of anxiety. So it is a great opportunity to help them emotionally too. 

Project one- We need help to support these young people to give them an opportunity to make a difference, with this funding we are working with young people specifically at risk ,including special needs and young people with disabilities, this short film will work to highlight the short- and long-term effects of grooming. It will also help young people to spot the signs. This will be delivered as a workshop in schools, colleges and pupil ref units. This project will focus more on making the right decisions before it is too late. 

Project two- There is a massive increase in families experiencing domestic violence. Many of these issues have only become apparent during the lockdown. We want to highlight the impact this has on the young people in many of these families.

There are many children and young adults that are being exposed to physical and mental abuse on a daily basis. 


We are trying to raise  as much as we can to complete these short films and make them available to over a million young people across the UK to help them manage the effects of grooming and domestic violence. 

Due to the current situation with Covid-19 we will donate some of the proceeds raised to the NHS and other charities that help to support victims and families of domestic violence.

We need your help now, so please donate if you can as it will go so far in changing the lives of so many others.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, I say it takes a village that cares to raise awareness. Let us be that village for them.

County Lines and Grooming and CSE affects us all. Adults and Children a like are being manipulated into groups that focus on criminal activity and sexual abuse. For many the full affects of County Lines and Grooming are only felt after the initial process.

Families and professional services are being stretched to find solutions to penetrating these organisations in an attempt to stave the increase of what has been called Modern Day Human Trafficking.
There is a growing concern for young people that are being targeted in organisations such as Pupil Referral units and care homes.

More recently there is an alarming focus on recruiting individuals with special needs. This can range from ADHD to different spectrum's of Autism.

Parents and professionals need to be educated in the process and manipulation involved in preparing and use of individuals for sexual and financial gains through criminal organisations.

Because the initiation process is largely confused as a friendship or relationship, many people are not able to spot the early signs and are easily inducted into the process.

My talks on County Lines and Grooming focuses on understanding the basis of a Deceptive Manipulator and providing a better understanding of the process involved.



OUR LATEST FILM PROJECT – WILLIAM 


During COVID 19 there is has been a steady rise in grooming and violence due to the lockdown. This increase in violence is also having an impact on the children and young people that are currently isolated in these situations.

COVID- 19 has affected us all, many of us have never experienced anything like this. Even though there are severe restrictions in place to stop the spread of the virus, there are many among us that choose to continue with crimes such as drug dealing.

This year we completed a short film that addresses the grooming process which identifies and addresses the issue of manipulation for gain.


Much of this is still happening during COVID 19.

Manipulation for gain has become such a concern to us all with the increase of county lines and child sex exploitation not forgetting the massive impact of serious youth violence on all of us.

The film highlights the challenges of a young man that has an ambition to become a professional football player but has fallen into debt with a groomer. It journals the struggle involved in breaking free of organised crime such as county lines. It also highlights the levels at which individuals will go to manipulate others.

The young people were brave enough to also help vital community services such as food delivery and support during this time.

The short film “William’ is now complete and will be screened online on the 30th May 2020.


24/7 National Domestic Abuse
Helpline:
0808 2000 247

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/


https://www.groomsafe.org/


Paul McKenzie, Youth Worker, Community Development Worker, Film Maker