Blondy's People

Kendra Houseman

28 interviews with selected people to look at what we can do to support and protect children and young people from gangs, child criminal exposition, child sexual exploitation, county lines, domestic abuse, and many other issues that impact their lives

  1. Episode 23- Space: Why the safeguarding of a child must come before the criminalisation.

    10/05/2021

    Episode 23- Space: Why the safeguarding of a child must come before the criminalisation.

    SPACE wants to stop and prevent adolescent criminal exploitation. SPACE is a self-funded organisation founded in January 2018, in response to the national prevalence of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and the County Lines phenomenon which has entrenched thousands of young children and people into serious violence and organised crime. Its primary mission is to *Raise awareness through unique perspective of lived-experience insight, as well as law-enforcement background, including Modern Slavery, of: County Lines, its indicators, broad impact including trauma, and professional gaps and challenges. Power and influence of child exploitation and grooming, including methods and vulnerabilities. Contextual Safeguarding (as County Lines exploitation is extra-familial abuse); Relevance of missing episodes in children and young people; Challenges with consent & transition; National Referral Mechanism (NRM) & Trafficking under Modern Slavery Laws; Link between CCE, CSE and Radicalisation; Mental Health and Trauma. *Make recommendations to improve inadequate or failing professional responses to County Lines exploitation. *Collaborate with charities and statutory services to enable necessary changes which will better safeguard County Lines affected children and young people, and their needs. *Train and equip statutory and non statutory professionals including those listed below, to recognise signs of County Lines and gain an understanding of the wider context of this exploitation. Police Local Authorities Ambulance Service Health / Medical Practitioners Education / OFSTED Legal Practitioners Faith / Community Groups British Transport Police Private Hire / Taxi Firms Charities / Voluntary Organisations Private Industry *Provide awareness and preventative sessions for parents and children (primary school upwards). *Provide free signposting, advocacy and advice for families directly involved in County Lines. *Campaign for change in the current response to CCE. We founded and co-lead the NPIES Advisory Group (see separate tab) and are currently highlighting the disparity in the recognition and support of UK Modern Slavery victims with our UK SSSS campaign (UK Survivors Same Slavery Support).

    52 min

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28 interviews with selected people to look at what we can do to support and protect children and young people from gangs, child criminal exposition, child sexual exploitation, county lines, domestic abuse, and many other issues that impact their lives