Children have been the ‘hidden victims of the pandemic’ says Peterborough NSPCC manager

The warning has been echoed by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s sexual exploitation experts, who have warned that children have been at greater risk during lockdown but fear many may not have been able to get help.

Throughout the pandemic, practitioners have supported over 200 children at risk.

In Peterborough, the service centre, which is located on Vicarage Farm Road, was unable to deliver face-to-face sessions until last week when they introduced a gradual reopening of three days a week.

Helen Shellard, a Children’s Service Practitioner for the Peterborough center for over a decade, said: “This sort of abuse acts like a tsunami ripping apart families and friendship if it goes undetected and that’s why this service is so important.

“These abusers go out of their way to turn the victim against everyone close to them in order to gain full control of the individual.

“This is usually done through gifts and affection when the person needs it the most, once this victim has feelings of love the situation then becomes very confusing.

“And there is an obvious need for these services. Our referrals are now filled up until the end of November and this is increasing daily.”

Meanwhile, Childline saw counselling sessions about child sexual exploitation, grooming and contact with a person who posed an online sexual abuse risk increase by 18 percent during lockdown.

Over the past year, the charity’s Childline service carried out 2,039 counselling sessions with children concerned about online sexual exploitation.

However, the NSPCC’s frontline teams, who work in the Protect and Respect service, worry that many more children may have suffered from sexual exploitation but will not have had access to their normal avenues of support and protective adults.

Alan Wood, the newly appointed NSPCC Peterborough Service Centre Manager, said: “We know that children have been the hidden victims of the pandemic and that is evident by how quickly our space for referrals has filled up, it’s hard to imagine the amount of trauma they have likely been subjected to.

“This has been a difficult time for every one of us but, through it all, many children have suffered abuse and neglect at home, increased risk online, or further pressures on their mental health that is only just beginning to surface.

“Many people are looking forward to a return to the ordinary, but extraordinary steps need to be taken for our children. We all need to act now. We need to be on the frontline to help children cope and recover, and we need to empower the adults in their lives to support and protect them, at a time when they too may be under immense pressure.

“We know that with the right help at the right time, these experiences don’t have to shape their lives. Now is that time.”

The NSPCC routinely helps and hears from children who are being manipulated or blackmailed into carrying out sexual acts.

For many, this impacts on their mental health and leaves them feeling isolated from the people closest to them. Some turn to self-harm, alcohol, or substance misuse as ways of coping with their experiences.

A 13-year old boy told Childline:“I’m worried about this friend I know online. We have built an online relationship but have never met. 

“They told me how much they trust me and say, “I love you” all the time, which makes me feel I have to say it back. 

“Recently they asked me to watch things together online. I didn’t think anything of it until they started making me watch online content that was explicit and meant for adults.

“I feel trapped as I don’t know how to tell them I feel uncomfortable watching this sort of thing and now am beginning to think about all the things they have said to me in the past and realise it’s not right.”

“Since the NSPCC’s Protect and Respect service launched in 2012, it has supported 3,618 young people at risk of exploitation - almost half of referrals came from schools.

In Peterborough, practitioners have historically worked with over 450 children and almost 50 parents.

Kerrie Johnstone, an NSPCC Protect and Respect Children’s Service Practitioner for group work sessions in schools in Peterborough and surrounding areas, said: “These sessions give many young people, who have suffered or believe they are suffering from sexual exploitation, an opportunity to share their experiences in a safe environment with peers who understand what they’re doing through.

“There are so many signs of verbal and non-verbal consent and today so many young people simply aren’t aware of the dangers just outside their door.

“We all understand the intentions of a rude person, but what is grooming behaviour and unhealthy relationships? The signs are not straightforward most of the time and that’s why young people struggle to identify themselves as victims of exploitation.

“We talk about what consent is and the verbal/non-verbal cues. The emphasis is around healthy relationships and we identify what this looks like with group activities and discussions.

“Maintaining contact and regular sessions with young people digitally throughout the pandemic is how we have adapted.

“It’s a vital lifeline to some, just knowing they have the support and can talk to someone they trust.

“As COVID-19 continues to impact on our lives, we will continue to adapt how we work on the frontline to help children cope and recover.”

For more information, people can visit nspcc.org.uk or click here to view their animation to help raise awareness of these issues.