How can we better protect children with SEND from exploitation?
Monday 20 January 2025, 12.30pm UK time.
Prof Anita Franklin, Manchester Metropolitan University.
About the event
Research funded by the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) and carried out by Manchester Metropolitan University (in collaboration with the NWG Network) found that children with special education needs and disabilities are at higher risk of criminal and sexual exploitation. It found that children with SEND are being failed as opportunities to protect them from being groomed and exploited are being missed by services meant to protect them because of the lack of funding, of little recognition of their vulnerability, and of the strategic approach to prevent it.
The subsequent research pointed to new approaches that foster a culture of ‘open conversations’ with children to improve the response and identify risks of exploitation before it happens.
in this lunchtime seminar, the lead research from both projects Prof Anita Franklin from the Manchester Metropolitan University will talk about the findings for her research and the ways we can improve the response to protect children with SEND from grooming and exploitation.
Modern Slavery PEC lunchtime seminar series
At the Modern Slavery PEC we believe in increasing the understanding of modern slavery, particularly through promoting the latest robust and relevant evidence in a way that is accessible to everyone.
This is why we have started a series of monthly lunchtime seminars, at which modern slavery researchers can share their latest findings with a diverse audience - everyone is welcome! The format is deliberately accessible and concise: no more than 15 minutes to present, followed by questions and discussion. Each seminar will last no longer than 45 minutes (unless there are lots of questions), which we hope will fit nicely into your lunch break!
We’ll be asking researchers who present to explain their findings in plain language that non-experts can easily understand, focusing on the real-world implications of their work and potential for impact on policy or practice, and, above all, on people and communities affected by modern slavery.
The seminars are open to anyone to join – you don’t have to be a researcher yourself. We encourage everyone interested to come along.
For those who can't make it, we will record the presentations and publish them on our YouTube channel and as short podcasts.
