Closer to home
How children are at risk of sexual abuse in every UK neighbourhood and how prevention strategies can keep them safe
The problem of people sexually abusing children is closer to home than you think. It happens to children and families in every neighbourhood in the UK. It can create life-long trauma. Too often, it goes undetected.
But there is hope. By focusing on evidence-based prevention strategies, we can stop much sexual abuse before it happens. We can better support victims and survivors.
Download Closer to Home
A joint report by the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse, the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and the Marie Collins Foundation
The Five Pillars of Prevention
A strong and growing body of evidence points toward an approach that will make a real difference in keeping children and young people safe. Targeting five areas of activity will help give focus to preventing child sexual abuse.
1) Build a more detailed picture
The last national survey of child maltreatment is almost 15 years old. We need to fill the gaps in our understanding of the scale and nature of child sexual abuse
2) Create a better debate and understanding
Government and political debate disproportionately focuses on high-profile and exceptional cases. We need to address the broader underlying issues which allow so many children to be sexually abused
3) Put evidence-based, targeted prevention strategies at the heart of tackling child sexual abuse
Evidence shows that specific interventions prevent offending and reoffending. Such initiatives can work alongside and support activity to disrupt offending and apprehend people who commit abuse
4) Create a prevention-friendly environment
People working with children need the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise and respond to concerns of child sexual abuse effectively
5) Deliver better support
for victims and survivors
One in nine support services hold waiting lists extending over a year. Earlier support can make a big difference to reduce the physical, mental, emotional and social impact of child sexual abuse
Working together
“Closer to home” is a joint report from three charities.
Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse
The CSA Centre’s overall aim is to reduce the impact of child sexual abuse through improved prevention and better response, so that children can live free from the threat and harm of sexual abuse.
The CSA Centre is a multi-disciplinary team, funded by the Home Office and hosted by Barnardo’s, working closely with key partners from academic institutions, local authorities, health, education, police and the voluntary sector.
Lucy Faithfull Foundation
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is a UK-wide charity that exists to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation.
We protect children by working with people who pose a risk and diverting them from causing harm. We support individuals and families who have been affected by abuse. And we help professionals who work with families to create safer environments for children.
We use data and insight, alongside decades of experience, to develop innovative strategies and interventions to make prevention a reality.
Marie Collins Foundation
The Marie Collins Foundation works in a range of ways to ensure that at every level the needs of victims and survivors are at the forefront of all decision making. We achieve this by supporting children, young people and their families affected by technology-assisted child sexual abuse by working with them directly and indirectly.
Our creation and facilitation of specialist training to both national and international professionals promotes a victim focussed, recovery approach.