A week of action gives youngsters vital life lessons
IVE of the borough’s schools were educated on child exploitation as part of the region’s week of action on the issue.
The Greater Manchesterwide programme aimed to highlight the warning signs that children could be being criminally exploited.
The powerful monologue performance, ‘Crossing the Line,’ was performed to 425 students at Falinge Park High School, St Anne’s Academy, Oulder Hill Community School, Matthew Moss High School and Siddal Moor High School.
Gail Hopper, director of children’s services at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Sessions like this are so important in getting the message out to young people and parents, it was clear that the performance really engaged young people and parents alike and we hope that will raise awareness and encourage further conversations about this important topic and that’s vital. We are particularly interested in future opportunities to work with interested parents and carers to explore what additional support and approaches from services would help them.”
In one school a session was also piloted with parents and staff as they are key in spotting the signs, which include: unexpected or repeated absence from school, owning money or clothes they are unable to account for or receiving an excessive amount of texts and phone calls.
As well as watching the performance the students took part in facilitated sessions about the signs of exploitation, how to report concerns and were shown ways to get out of these situations.
Dean Coady OBE, a retired police officer who specialises in criminal exploitation and knife crime awareness training, delivered sessions to over 700 students and 28 staff during the action week.
Councillor Rachel Massey, assistant portfolio holder for children’s service, said: “We’re really keen to provide a range of resources focusing on exploitation of children and young people. We hope that these examples really resonate with them as well as their parents and others who work with young people. It is important to get people talking about this subject, shining a light on the harsh reality.”
For more information on the signs of child criminal exploitation and where to report concerns, please visit programmechallenger. co.uk