Statement
As set out in StreetGames’ safeguarding policy, our focus is to operate in a child and young person centred environment where every child or young person can feel safe whilst taking part in sport and physical activity. This policy should be read in conjunction with the safeguarding policy.
In Putting Children First (July 2016) the Government set out its ambitions to support vulnerable children to lead safe and positive lives, to become successful adults and to have the kind of happy childhood that we want for all our children. To support putting children first there is the CSE Guidance Core Document (2017). This is available to all StreetGames staff and can be used to support any concerns raised about potential CSE of a child or young person.
Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. Sexual abuse may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside clothing. It may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in the production of sexual images, forcing children to look at sexual images or watch sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet).
StreetGames understands it has a role to play both with its own staff and volunteers and across the UK in supporting local delivery organisations to identify the possible signs of CSE. This will involve working together to protect the child/young person who is at risk and ensure that relevant authorities are contacted.
Child Sexual Exploitation – Definition
“Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology”.
Like all forms of child sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation:
- can affect any child or young person (male or female) under the age of 18 years, including 16 and 17 year olds who can legally consent to have sex;
- can still be abuse even if the sexual activity appears consensual;
- can include both contact (penetrative and non-penetrative acts) and non-contact sexual activity;
- can take place in person or via technology, or a combination of both;
- can involve force and/or enticement-based methods of compliance and may, or may not, be accompanied by violence or threats of violence;
- may occur without the child or young person’s immediate knowledge (through others copying videos or images they have created and posting on social media, for example);
- can be perpetrated by individuals or groups, males or females, and children or adults. The abuse can be a one-off occurrence or a series of incidents over time, and range from opportunistic to complex organised abuse; and
- is typified by some form of power imbalance in favour of those perpetrating the abuse. Whilst age may be the most obvious, this power imbalance can also be due to a range of other factors including gender, sexual identity, cognitive ability, physical strength, status, and access to economic or other resources.
Reporting and recording concerns
As outlined in StreetGames safeguarding policy, we have a reporting system that all staff are made aware of and this includes how to report or raise concerns in the following scenarios:
- At a StreetGames run event, festival or residential
- About a young person within a StreetGames funded or branded activity within a local community (run by the local delivery organisation)
- About a young person at an organisation that is part of the StreetGames network,
In all of these scenarios, the basic reporting system is the same. Staff should use the report form and/or the Tootoot case management system to record the information about the concern and inform the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) immediately. This is all outlined in StreetGames Safeguarding Policy.
The DSO will then use the appropriate system to manage the incident. In most cases it will include working with the local delivery organisation which the child or young person engages with in their community, Childrens’ Social Care, the Police and the Local Children’s Safeguarding Partnership. The DSO will use guidance from the CSE Guidance Core Document (2017) in working with multiple agencies in cases of CSE.
More on Safeguarding
