Child sexual exploitation affects thousands of children and young people across the UK every year. It can happen to you, no matter whether you are a boy or a girl, and no matter what age, background or community you are from.
If you’re a young person it can be difficult to spot the warning signs as you believe you’re in a positive relationship with someone.
Think about all your different relationships. The relationship could be with close friends, a boyfriend or girlfriend - and maybe groups of friends from school or the area you live in. It could be a person or a new group of people you’ve only just got to know. It could be someone you’ve talked to online.
These “friends” are nice to you - they show you a lot of interest and affection in the beginning - they make you feel special. Sometimes they ask groups of young people to come back to their house with older people.
As we grow up, we develop relationships with lots of different people. We all have to learn to enjoy healthy relationships, and that’s a great skill to have.
But things can go wrong along the way, and people might try to take advantage of you, forcing you into dangerous situations. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the warning signs that someone might want to exploit you and be careful who you trust.
Warning Signs
They offer you drugs and alcohol - a place to chill out or involve you in activities that seem exciting or fun. They may even buy you presents like clothes, a mobile phone, or give you money to buy things. When they have gained your trust and affection they may change how they act around you.
Their aim is to draw young people like you into swapping or selling sex. They are not really your friends.
That person might start to find ways of controlling you, such as making promises they can’t keep, threatening you, or threatening to tell your family or becoming violent if you don’t do want they want.
They might also try and separate you from your friends, family, and other people who care for you. When that happens, it’s easier for an abuser to put you in dangerous situations or force you to do things you don’t want to do with them or other people they know.
That’s not doing you a favour - that’s exploitation.
They will ask for sexual favours for themselves and/or other people, in return for alcohol, drugs, presents, money; all the things they gave you for free before.
Sometimes young people who have fewer people looking out for them are even more vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
Local Help and Support
- Eric Manns Hub - 01709 255266 - for counselling and support for those up to up to 25 years
- Rotherham Rise - 0844 225 4411 - We offer support for people affected by Child Sexual Exploitation, a dedicated Young Peoples Domestic Abuse Outreach Service, Counselling Service and work with male victims of Domestic and CSE abuse
- Sexual Assault Referral Centre - 0330 223 0938 (Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm); 0330 223 0099 (Out of hours - 24/7 )
The Sexual Assault Referral Centre provides services to people in South Yorkshire (including Sheffield) who have been raped or sexually assaulted. This could be recently or in the past.
The centre offers crisis support following a rape or assault, including the option to have a forensic examination, and works with specialist agencies to provide the right treatment, support and aftercare. They will help you to understand your rights and options.
The service is confidential and independent of the police, and members of the public can refer themselves without having reported a crime to the police. You may choose to stay anonymous – you do not have to give your name to access their services.
- Rotherham Women’s Counselling Service (and Pitstop for men) - 01709 835482 - For men and women who have experienced rape, sexual abuse or domestic abuse
- GROW - 01709 511171 - Emotional wellbeing and practical services and support to individuals up to 25 years old, plus support for the survivor’s family in their recovery to help their child/young person.
