LETTER: Keep kids safe

Barnardo’s is calling on the new UK government to commit to ensuring that all children in England receive age-appropriate Sex and Healthy Relationship Education in order to help tackle child sexual exploitation.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Jun 2015, 13:00 BST
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More must be done to prevent children from being exploited and we want the new administration to make the commitment so that children will get the guidance they need to form healthy relationships in the future.

It is important for young people to understand that anyone is vulnerable to this crime, regardless of their background.

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Due to the challenging nature of this topic, we also want teachers to receive specialist training on the nature of child sexual exploitation and abuse so they can deliver classes effectively and confidently.

Parents also have a hugely important role to play and schools should involve them in the planning and process from the beginning, including taking into account their wishes on whether boys and girls should be given sex and relationship education together.

Our specialist services are seeing more and more children who are identified as needing our help.

Whenever and wherever we open a service we find children who urgently need our support.

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Recent high-profile sex abuse scandals pushed the issue to the forefront of the public consciousness but we must ensure that this profound crisis doesn’t get lost post-election.

We must maintain the political momentum on this threat to children. It must not be allowed to drop off the agenda.

The new government must work with local authorities, police, schools and parents across England to keep young people safe

Jonathan Whalley

regional director

Barnardo’s South east & Anglia

• Want to share your views? Send your letters by email to [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected], or post them to Letters, Editorial, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA. Remember to include your full name and address.

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