Redbridge launches new service to support young victims of exploitation

The London Borough of Redbridge has announced the launch of a service which will offer targeted, early-stage support to young victims of criminal and sexual exploitation.

The service has been launched through the borough’s role as a pathfinder authority in the government’s Families First for Children programme and will involve exploitation specialists, youth workers and social workers working in partnership to help children when risks have been identified in their lives outside of the home.

The service will see the merging of existing early help and social work services for children at risk and will utilise a £2.5m grant which will help develop models of improved support for children that can be rolled out across England.

Cllr Lloyd Duddridge, Redbridge Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “In Redbridge, we have always risen to the challenge of protecting the vital services local people rely on and delivering innovations – so I am thrilled to be launching our brand new Family Help: Contextual Safeguarding Service. 

“As such, we have an incredible opportunity ahead of us in Redbridge. We already know that we deliver outstanding services to children and families and that our borough is a great place to live, but more work must be done to ensure every single one of our children can build a positive future.”