Coronation Street is right to show this
VIEWERS of Coronation Street have expressed their shock at the hardhitting plot which sees 16-year-old Bethany groomed and sexually exploited by Nathan, a man in his 30s.
Writers on the show have revealed that they engaged in heated debate about whether the issue should be tackled in the popular ITV soap.
But the programme-makers were right to tackle such a difficult subject. It’s an extremely serious issue and a light should be shone on it.
This kind of grooming, exploitation and abuse goes on under people’s noses every day so it’s vital that parents and carers, as well as teachers and other professionals, are able to spot the warning signs so children and young people can be protected.
Barnardo’s is leading the fight against child sexual exploitation and last year we supported almost 2,500 young people, parents and carers across the UK who have been affected, although the true number of victims is likely to be much higher.
Like Bethany, the young victims of this crime mistakenly think these abusers care for them. But ‘gifts’ of alcohol and mobile phones can be used to control and manipulate them into doing things they don’t want to do. Men and women from all cultural groups, ethnicities and religions are sexually exploiting children, so it’s absolutely critical that as many people as possible are aware of the signs of grooming so we can prevent abuse.
Across Manchester and Salford, Barnardo’s Safer Futures team work alongside police and social services from both local authorities to provide intensive support and therapeutic services for young people assessed at high risk of CSE.
We help to stabilise things going on in their life and it’s critical for us that no time limit is imposed on how long the young person can access our services for as it often takes time to build up a trusting relationship before the individual feels they can tell us anything meaningful.
We then provide long lasting support for as long as they need us.
Education around CSE is a key tool in the fight to tackle this issue and during 2015/2016, with funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner, more than 800 teachers and schools professionals were trained to deliver the Barnardo’s Real Love Rocks classes to children in late primary and secondary schools across Greater Manchester, teaching young people about healthy relationships and how to spot the signs of CSE.
Bethany’s story is a stark reminder that children and young people across the region and the country need the type of support Barnardo’s offers.
It’s brave programming by Coronation Street’s creators and could protect children from abuse and exploitation. Marie Corran, Assistant Director for Barnardo’s West Region
Private health helps NHS
I FAIL to see why Ms Manning (Viewpoints, March 16) is so opposed to private health care.
I have had around £75,000 worth of operations on my heart paid for by my insurer, which in turn saved the NHS from having to perform the same essential operations upon me, freeing up money to treat others.
My consultants treated me at times when they weren’t on NHS duty so the myth that there is a diversion of their time is a nonsense.
The other issue is that without private healthcare to supplement their incomes, the world-class consultants we have in this country would need to be paid properly by the NHS which would probably bankrupt it. Failing this, many would simply leave to the USA or elsewhere where the pay is much better anyway. M Bryant, Stockport
Tram work is badly planned
I’M not one to oppose improvements which enhance the local economy and transport infrastructure.
The works, however, which are being carried out currently in Trafford Park to improve the Metrolink network, I can only describe as badly planned for the commuter, but worse than that is the destruction to the environment.
The devastation of the wild animal habitat in the removal of the trees and other greenery is shocking to see and at the least is a complete eyesore.
Surely this work could have been carried out in a more sympathetic way - is it really worth all this destruction for a tram line? Cathy Woodier, Urmston