#LookCloser Campaign – The Children’s Society

#LookCloser Campaign – The Children’s Society

Welcome to the start of our 11^th #LookCloser campaign!

What is #LookCloser?

#LookCloser is The Children’s Society’s award-winning campaign supported by the British Transport Police and the National County Lines Coordination Centre, aiming to raise awareness about the exploitation of children and young people and the vital role that everyone can play in helping stop it.

This latest campaign will run from 23^rd to 29^th June

Why is the focus on ‘building positive relationships’?

Over the past year young people have told us that they feel judged by adults, that people wont choose to take action to protect them and that exploited young people are more likely to be seen as troublemakers than as someone that needs help and support. One young person, who was only 12 years old told us that “people don’t care as much as they used to”.

We also hear time and time again that professionals, parents and carers want more guidance and support around how to build positive relationships with children at risk of or experiencing exploitation, including when their interaction with that child might be one off or in difficult circumstances such as when police are questioning or interviewing a child.

We all have a role to play in recognising that victims and survivors are more than their abuse, to make efforts to understand their full identity and to take a strengths-based approach in working with them which fosters trust and can help them rebuild their self-esteem after experiencing abuse. As a young person told The Children’s Society some years ago “treat a young person as a human being, not a case you are working on’.

Through doing so we can better protect children and young people from harm and ensure they receive the right support.

What’s new?

• Our new resource for professionals on building positive relationships. Download it in English and Welsh here.
• Our key resources for the public newly available in 11 languages. Download here.
• New social media assets to support the campaign this week and across the year. Download here.

How can you join the #LookCloser campaign?

Everyone has a role to play in protecting children from exploitation. By supporting our campaign, you can spread the word to ensure children get help when they need it most.

• Visit and share our LookCloser webpage to spot the signs of exploitation including specific signs for a range of industries. View here.
• Read and share our new resource on building positive relationships. Access it here.
• Use our appropriate language guide to challenge victim blaming language. Access it here.
• Use our #LookCloser assets, such as posters, email signatures and social media pack, to help raise awareness of child exploitation across your networks and communities. Access here.

Thank you for all your support. If you have any questions, please contact us at prevention@childrenssociety.org.uk