Being a parent or carer can feel challenging at times, especially as children grow older, become more independent and spend more time outside the home and online. Most of the time, these experiences are positive and help young people learn, grow and gain confidence.

However, children and young people can sometimes be at risk of exploitation, which can happen in everyday places such as schools, sport and leisure settings, transport networks, neighbourhoods and online spaces.

In Essex, safeguarding children from exploitation is part of the Risk in the Community approach. This recognises that keeping children safe is not just about what happens at home, but also about the places they spend time, the people they meet and the influences around them.

As part of Child Exploitation (CE) Awareness Week, we are focusing on supporting parents and carers to:

• Understand what exploitation is
• Recognise early signs that something may not be right
• Feel confident talking to their child
• Know where to get help and support