NSPCC launch year-long campaign to tackle child sexual exploitation in Sheffield
The charity wants parents in South Yorkshire to be talking to their kids about the dangers of grooming before they get to secondary school
The NSPCC say every child and parent in Sheffield needs to know about the risks of child grooming - and where to get help.
The charity's launching a year-long campaign in the city to highlight the issue and prevent children from being exploited both on and offline.
It's Not Okay will include workshops for parents and a play about child sexual exploitation touring schools.
Helen Westerman's from the charity - she told Hallam why Sheffield was chosen for the scheme:
"There's a real appetite in Sheffield from professionals - they recognise that actually to be proactive and preventative is much better than to try to mop things up after things have gone wrong. Sheffield City Council and the Safeguarding Board want to be really proactive to make sure children are safe in the city."
"We want parents to talk to their children right from a young age about how to stay safe from all forms of abuse, but particularly sexual abuse, to have conversations with their children about their safety offline and online. Not everyone is who they say they are online and if something seems too good to be true it probably is.
The campaign's also going to look at how organisations can work together to prevent children being abused.
Helen says parents in South Yorkshire should be talking to their kids about staying safe, and the dangers of exploitation, before they get to secondary school:
"We want parents, children and young people and the Sheffield public to know what child sexual abuse and exploitation, where to go if they've got concerns and to have some avenues of support.
"This campaign goes to the heart of our work to prevent child sexual exploitation and abuse.
“It’s Not Okay, builds on our partnership work with colleagues from Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Police, health and the voluntary sector to help make sure that children, young people and parents are able to recognise the signs and indicators of child sexual exploitation , as well as raise awareness of the issue with people of all ages across the city, helping to protect future generations."