Child Drug Exploitation: A Tool Box for Building Resilience – Oxfordshire YOS (May 2019)

Summary:

The toolkit, developed by Oxfordshire YOS is aimed at those working directly with children identified as vulnerable to exploitation.

Description:

The toolkit is aimed at those working directly with children identified as vulnerable to exploitation. It is presented as a selection of individual activities that can be completed on a 1:1 basis or as part of a group work programme.

The toolkit aims to help build resilience in children by facilitating their understanding of the risks involved exploitation, while letting them explore their own understanding of their behaviour and environments. It seeks to help them identify and realise the dangers that are posed by becoming involved in drug related activity.

Child drugs exploitation is one on the many elements of Child Criminal Exploitation which may also include, County lines involvement, child sexual exploitation and Modern slavery.

The toolkit has been developed with the full involvement of young people and in conjunction with the Police and Children- social care.

Implementing the Practice:

• This programme is used with any child who is considered at risk of being involved in drug or gang activity.
• A specialist Substance Misuse and Exploitation team has been established and they have been trained in the use of the toolkit and deliver the sessions with the children.
• The substance Misuses and Exploitation team has volunteers that they are able to use to support the work with the children.
• The toolkit is used flexibly, based on the needs of the individual child.
• Following each session, the children are able to provide feedback.
• Laptops, pens and paper will be required for this programme.

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