The Children's Society

Criminal groups are using social media and online gaming to target young people and groom them into exploitation. Understanding their methods can help us to spot the signs and support young people to stay safe and move forward: https://lnkd.in/eCQj4ZbH

The #GoodChildhoodReport 2024 shows that children are in a happiness recession. So what needs to change? Our Campaigns Manager Siobhán outlined six key changes at Parliament Square. Take action now: bit.ly/road2goodchildhood

More than 100,000 children and young people are currently living in care in the UK, and every year that number continues to rise. Sometimes the system lets them down or falls short. In our new film, Chelsea shares with us her vision for a better care system. https://lnkd.in/eRH-EYP2

It can sometimes be awkward or difficult to start a conversation with a young person about their wellbeing. By creating open, trusting spaces in your classroom or youth group, you can give children the space to open up when they feel ready. We spoke to some young people about what wellbeing means to them and how they'd like the adults in their lives to approach them about it: https://lnkd.in/ejGFxDWA

Amy felt lost and angry inside when her parents got a divorce. But now, she can feel excited about the future. Her advice for other young people? "I want to encourage other people that it gets better. It gets a lot easier if you open up to someone." Watch her story: https://lnkd.in/enD5kMzG

TW: Self harm When the pressures in a young person's life begin to build, they might turn to friends, family, or teachers for help. But some may feel like they can't, which can lead to harming their bodies as a form of coping. We spoke to two of our practitioners about how specialised therapies like DBT can help young people understand the chain of events that lead to them harming, and how that chain can be broken: https://lnkd.in/etikJ-eB

We are proud to support a new national campaign, which seeks to encourage further victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and/or exploitation to reach out for support if that’s the right thing to do for them - whether it’s telling a friend, or contacting a support organisation. Watch the film at whenyouareready.co.uk. #WhenYouAreReady

All criminal and sexual exploitation is a form of modern slavery. And by treating it as such, we can ensure that young people are given the care and support they need to feel safe and move forward. Our Act on Exploitation programme helps businesses to safely disrupt child exploitation everywhere. Our programme is sector-leading, grounded in unrivalled insights from young people themselves and those who work to keep them safe, and informed by our decades of trauma-informed professional practice. Find out more about how we can protect children and young people together: https://lnkd.in/efitasx8 #AntiSlaveryDay2024

Worryingly, 16,996 children and young people were identified as potential victims of modern slavery last year in the UK. But this number doesn’t paint a full picture. Many children’s cases aren’t referred due to biases around age, gender, ethnicity, or the young person being treated as a perpetrator rather than a victim. Modern slavery is when someone is exploited by others for personal or commercial gain. We’re working to ensure that all young people who have been exploited – from every demographic, circumstance, and experience - are treated as victims of modern slavery and given the care and support they need. Exploitation can happen to any child, anywhere. Learn more about how we can protect children together: https://lnkd.in/duyE68G #AntiSlaveryDay2024

Our CEO Mark Russell had the privilege of joining Lisa Nandy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and a host of third-sector leaders to hear their commitment to partnership with civil society. "I was so pleased to share The Children's Society's vision to overturn the decline in children's happiness," said Mark.