First screening of animated film designed to safeguard children from exploitation

AN INNOVATIVE animation has been designed to safeguard children in Leeds and across the county from the risks of exploitation and abuse.

Mr Shapeshifter uses a modern ‘fairy tale’ to depict how some adults can abuse children’s trust and highlights ways in which young people can protect themselves.

Supported by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson through a £36,000 grant, it gets its first official screening today at an event in Bradford.

Mr Burns-Williamson said online safety and child exploitation were priorities that he had been personally committed to addressing through his work.

“Having previously provided financial support to the Mr Shapeshifter theatre performances, I immediately recognised the wider potential it held,” he said.

“This led to me injecting a significant amount of grant money, as part of the West Yorkshire Child Sexual Exploitation Innovation Project, to help make the animation a reality.”

The animation is based on the acclaimed GW Theatre Company stage production written by Mike Harris, which has toured schools since 2015. It has been created in collaboration with Fettle Animation, a Bafta award-winning company based in Marsden.

Dave Jones, GW’s creative director, said it was a huge coup for the region that would help to tackle these important issues locally and nationwide.

He said: “This animation will carry powerful messages and information to thousands of children, parents, carers and families. If something doesn’t feel right then it very probably isn’t.

“Tell someone and keep repeating yourself until you are heard. By raising and embedding these and other issues in all communities, West Yorkshire is defining a new safeguarding standard.”

The resource will be available online at www.mrshapeshifter.com for anyone to use alongside free support materials.

It is designed to help teachers, parents, community groups and organisations alike to discuss these complex issues with children of primary school age.

Mr Burns-Williamson added: “It is crucial that young people have a clear knowledge of the signs of child exploitation or abuse and how they are able to flag it to the authorities or parents when or where it occurs.

“I am certain that this innovative animation will go a long way to achieving this, whilst driving home the consequences of such activities to others.”