SEASIDE and town centre businesses are backing the charity Barnardo’s Cymru in a campaign to keep children safe this summer.
Specialist workers from Barnardo’s Better Futures service have been visiting businesses in places where children and young people gather during the holidays, raising awareness of the dangers they can face.
They have been speaking to staff in amusement arcades, funfairs, takeaways, bus stations and shops, asking them to look out for signs that young people may be at risk of grooming and child sexual exploitation. Barnardo’s is calling on them to report any suspicious behaviour.
Barnardo’s Better Futures team manager Louise said: “Sadly child sexual exploitation can happen to any young person at any time. During the summer months, with longer days and lighter evenings, children can spend more time outdoors in certain spaces which may make them more vulnerable to grooming.
“We are saying that if your instinct is telling you something’s not right, please act upon it because you could be safeguarding a child from harm.”
Among the businesses supporting the awareness campaign is the Hi-Tide Inn, Porthcawl, where managing director Francesca Dower also oversees an amusement arcade and campsite.
She employs badged security staff and has cameras which can track suspicious behaviour. She says her staff are aware of the need to report anything they are concerned about.
“Most of our staff are parents or grandparents themselves, they have been with us for many years and are aware of the situations that can happen. They can spot the vulnerable and have an eye for what doesn’t look right. It’s very important for businesses like ours that actively encourage children and families onto their premises.
“We look for evidence of grooming in the amusement arcade in particular. Our staff are Bacta trained, that’s the trade body for arcades ad gambling machines, and they look out for anything suspicious.”
Barnardo’s Better Futures works with six local authorities across Wales and the team is currently visiting popular spots throughout the area. The service also offers training on the risks and indicators of child sexual exploitation.
Louise said: “We are encouraging businesses to build relationships with their local Police Community Support Officer and know how to get hold of Children’s Services duty teams so they can report concerns to them or to 101.”
The parent of a 15-year-old supported by Better Futures said: “I knew something wasn’t right, but I just didn’t know what. They were still going to school, still helping out at home but things were just different. They started spending more time out of the house, I thought that was normal, they were 15 after all.
“By the time I had realised what was happening to them things had got really bad. I could see it, but they still couldn’t. That was the hardest bit, we lost our child for a while and things got really bad for us as a family, we are ok now, thankfully.”
The Better Futures team have produced a guide for parents of children and young people who are at risk of sexual exploitation or been harmed by it. It can be found here. Children and young people are also likely to spend more time online during the holidays and advice on keeping them safe in the virtual world can be found on the Barnardo’s website here.
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