Podcast Series Gives Local Families A Voice
Local parents and grandparents whose children have been targeted by manipulative criminals have spoken up about their experiences and the support they have received from Derbyshire’s specialist child exploitation charity, Safe and Sound in a bid to help others recognise the signs of grooming and exploitation.
Safe and Sound have teamed up with Pepper Dawes Media director and former BBC presenter Sally Pepper to produce a series of podcasts to give a voice to families whose lives have been affected by child exploitation including online grooming, sexual exploitation and County Lines.
The parents and a grandparent have recounted their experiences anonymously to help other families recognise that they are not alone and encourage them to reach out for help.
The podcast series also features an interview with Fiona Moffat, managing partner of Timms Solicitors which has offices in Derby, Burton, Ashby and Swadlincote and who have supported the project.
In her podcast episode, she explains the family law system which many of the children, young people and families become part of due to the child exploitation.
Safe and Sound CEO Tracy Harrison explained: “We have featured the written stories of young people and families on our website and social media channels but were keen to give our parents the opportunity to speak openly and frankly about how child exploitation has impacted their families.
“Podcasts are a very powerful way of telling these stories and Sally Pepper’s interview skills and empathy has helped give a voice to our parents so that they can help others on their journey to get help for themselves and their children.
“The experiences of the parents we support highlights just how devastating child exploitation is on the whole family.
“They also highlight that authorities need to listen to parents as they are part of the solution rather than being regarded as part of the problem.
“The overwhelming theme that comes out in the podcast series is that child exploitation can happen to any young person – regardless of their age, sex, social or cultural background.
“It highlights the manipulative and predatory nature of criminals who groom young people online and in person for their own ends in such a way that they cannot see a way out.
“We are particularly grateful to Timms Solicitors and Fiona Moffat for supporting this project and lending their expertise to give an insight into how the family law system works.”
Sally Pepper continued: “Since leaving the BBC to set up Pepper Dawes Media, I have had some incredible conversations with all sorts of companies and organisations about creating compelling content that engages with the right audience.
“I am honoured to have had the opportunity to interview these brave and resilient parents and grandparents whose lives have been turned upside down by criminals and who are keen to ensure nobody else goes through what they have.
“We are already in discussions about how we can also give a voice to some of the young people that Safe and Sound support which will resonate with their peers and highlight that they are not to blame for what has been done to them and that there is help available to help them move forward with their lives.”
Timms Solicitors managing partner Fiona Moffat added: “Family Law proceedings can be very confusing and sometimes frightening for families – particularly when safeguarding and protection orders are required but I hope that my podcast will reassure parents that support is available.”
The podcast series starts with Safe and Sound’s family support worker Karen Ritchie outlining some of the experiences of parents and the challenges they have faced.
The series also includes a professional mum of three, whose 17-year-old son who has additional needs was groomed by a friend embroiled in a County Lines drugs gang talks about the impact on the whole family of the control that criminals have on young people.
She said: “I have done everything I can to protect my son. Non-judgemental support from Safe and Sound has helped me feel human again but the shame, guilt and constant fear will never go away.”
A grandmother from Derby tells how she is still picking up the pieces of criminal and sexual exploitation in her family and the warning signs that something is wrong.
“The people who grooming our young people are ruthless. As families we need to be more aware of what’s really going on and looking for the signs and I have learnt so much from other parents going through the same thing and realising I am not alone.”
And a mother whose daughter was groomed and raped by several older men sobbed as she said: “It went on for two years when she was at an age when she was trying to find love from somewhere.
“Safe and Sound have helped us so much and I don’t know where would be without them -it’s scary.”