Over 13,600 children came to the attention of the authorities due to child criminal exploitation in 2023-2024.
The true figure of the numbers involved is much higher as many young people slip through the net. Factors such as poverty, social inequality and the rise of online grooming have been underlying factors driving some of this growth. To address the rising issue, St Giles provides tailored support for children and young people in England and Wales who are involved in or at risk of child criminal exploitation, helping 382 out of exploitation in 2023-2024.
From schools-based work providing early interventions to children at risk, to work in hospitals with young victims of violence, this work has been shown to have an impact. The Youth Endowment Fund has found that schools mentoring projects lead to a 21% reduction in violence, a 14% decrease in all offending and a 19% reduction in re-offending rates. Our work in the Royal London Hospital reduced re-admission rates to 7% over a 5-year period against a national average of 40% for the cohort we work with.
All the work is carried out by facilitators and mentors using lived experience to offers the insight of someone who has encountered similar situations. This lived experience can provide an authentic voice to build trust and ultimately, providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to build resilience, make better choices and move their lives forward in a positive way.
One way that St Giles plays a pivotal role in this effort is by training individuals to be vigilant and adaptive to spot the signs of exploitation. Key indicators can include behavioural or appearance changes, receiving unexplained gifts, associations with older individuals and frequent absences from school.
Behind every sign of child exploitation is a young person calling out for help. When we choose to take notice, we aren’t just identifying risks; we’re recognising there are opportunities to step into their lives at a crucial moment, offering safety, compassion, and hope. By acting early, we can disrupt the cycle and have a chance to change the trajectory of a child’s future forever. Because every child deserves a life free from exploitation.
– Junior Smart, Business Development Manager and Founder of St Giles Trust’s SOS Project.
Spotting the signs early on can prevent future trauma. No child or young person is immune to child criminal exploitation, and it affects both inner cities and rural communities. Everyone working with children and young people needs to be alert to the potential red flags and equipped with the skills that will enable them to reach out to children and young people who they think might be at risk.