Unhealthy relationships and relationship abuse

All teachers understand that a young person being in an unhealthy relationship can lead to abuse of many different types: controlling behaviour, emotional, financial, psychological abuse and more.

Free teaching resources are available on sexting, consent and preventing relationship abuse from the Home Office’s Disrespect Nobody campaign. The Home Office has worked with the PSHE association to develop the materials: :

• Two discussion guides (for 8 to 12 year olds and one for 16 to 18 year olds)

• Three lesson plans covering relationship abuse, consent and sexting

New materials for keeping children safe at parties

A new interactive for schools will soon be available to help young people stay safe at parties. More ‘Grooming parties’ are happening across the country and more young people are finding themselves being groomed and exploited in this way.

Access free resources here

Sign up to get free Rebecca’s Story resources here

If you work or come into contact with young people in a school setting, whether in an employed or voluntary capacity, then you have a duty of care towards them.

There is no specific offence for ‘child sexual exploitation.’ Therefore perpetrators can be convicted of a range of offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and fall under section 47 the Children’s Act 1989 – ‘reasonable cause to suspect that a child who lives, or is found in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm.’

These include:

• Sexual activity with a child

• Possessing indecent images of children

• Making indecent images of a child

• Inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

• Abuse of position of trust

• Administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual abuse

It is your responsibility to make sure that you:

• Know and understand WHAT CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IS

• Recognise THE WARNING SIGNS

• Know who to contact and HOW TO REPORT CONCERNS

You can help to raise awareness among young people themselves about recognising the signs of CSE and helping them keep themselves safe.

Talk to them about healthy relationships and what they can do to help protect themselves, if they are in a difficult situation.

Lucy and the Boy - short animated video for young people highlighting the risks of sharing personal information with strangers online

I Saw Your Willy - short video for young people that shows the dangers of sharing private images and how quickly such pictures can spread.