Information for Trainers
• Please be aware that there are notes accompanying
some of the slides in this presentation. (You can view
these when in small screen or print off as “notes pages” in
your print options) They will help you to deliver the
presentation and enable you to get some discussion
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• Slides 13, 30 and 33 are opportunities to pose a question
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some feedback before you click onto the following slides.
The Boys’ Brigade
Youth Leader Training
Safeguarding Training
Understanding Child Abuse
Child Abuse
• What is it?
• How widespread is it?
• Grooming behaviour
• Prevention
• Issues for BB Companies
Examples of child abuse
• Child abuse is generally categorised as:
• Neglect
• Emotional abuse
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
A child may be subject to more than one form of abuse at
any given time
Neglect
Where a child suffers significant harm by being deprived of
food, clothing, warmth, hygiene, intellectual stimulation,
supervision and safety.
Neglect is also defined as a lack of affection from adults.
Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse occurs when a child’s needs for
affection, approval, consistency and security
are not met.
This tends to occur in the relationship between the adult
and child rather than in an event or pattern of events
Examples of emotional abuse
• Persistent criticism, sarcasm or hostility
• Giving too much responsibility to a child
• Unrealistic expectations of a child’s ability to behave in a certain way
• Under or over protection of a child
• Use of unreasonable or harsh disciplinary measures
• Exposure to domestic violence
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse occurs when a child is used by another person for
his/her gratification or sexual arousal, or for that of others, for example:
• Exposure of the sexual organs or any sexual act intentionally
performed in the presence of a child
• Intentional touching or molesting of the body of a child whether by a
person or object for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification
• Masturbation in the presence of a child or involvement of the child
in the act of masturbation
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is any form of non-accidental injury that
causes significant harm to a child, including:
• Shaking
• Use of deliberate force in handling
• Hitting
• Knocking down
• Burning or scalding
Other forms of abusive behaviour
• Verbal abuse
• Bullying
• Unwelcome behaviour including
- favouritism
- exclusion
- sexual harassment and sexual innuendo
- humiliating or embarrassing a child
- deprivation of basic rights
- harsh disciplinary regimes.
Indicators of concern
• Disclosures of abuse by a young person
• Age-inappropriate or abnormal sexual play or knowledge
• Specific injuries or patterns of injuries
• Signs of injury for which there is no explanation, or which
is consistent with abuse
• Running away from home
• Self harming
• Under-age pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection
Indicators of concern
• Someone else (a parent, friend) may disclose that a
young person has told them they are being abused, or
may have witnessed the abuse themselves
• A young person’s behaviour may raise concerns
• A volunteer may personally witness abuse taking place
• There may be consistent indication, over a period of time,
that a young person is suffering from emotional or
physical neglect
What should you do if you
have concerns?
Any concerns should be passed on to the
Captain and Chaplain or Minister
AND
Karen Jay at Felden or your Regional Director
Some statistics on sexual abuse
• Majority of child abusers sexually assault children they
know
• 80% of offences take place in the home of either the
offender or the victim
• 60 – 70% of abusers target only girls
• 20 – 30% of abusers target children of either sex
More statistics…
• 21% of girls and 11% of boys have experienced child
sexual abuse (UK)
• 95% of adult abusers are male (UK)
• Approximately one half of young people who had
experienced abuse told someone at the time
• Only 5% of incidents were reported to an agency. Of
those reported only 1% resulted in prosecution
Common misunderstandings
Myth: “Children often fantasise or make up stories about
being abused - they have very active imaginations”
FACT: In fact it is extremely rare for children to lie or make
up stories about being sexually abused. The far bigger
problem is that children are often too frightened to tell
anyone.
Abusers often tell their victims that no one will believe them
if they report what has happened.
Myths and Facts
Myth: “Disabled children are less likely to be abused.”
FACT: Disabled children are more likely to be abused
because they are more vulnerable, dependent on others
and may be less able to communicate what has happened
to them.
Myths and Facts
Myth: “Child abusers are “paedophiles” who are from
disadvantaged or abusive families themselves.
FACT: Abusers come from a very wide range of social and
intellectual backgrounds and may be well liked and
respected members of society. Although a small minority of
women abuse, the vast majority of abusers are male. Many
people want to be able to identify a category of men who
are more likely to abuse children.
Myths and Facts
In fact, there is no 'type' of man who is an abuser – they
come from every class, professional, racial and religious
background. They are heterosexual and homosexual. They
are also often very skilled at manipulating people and
situations, at creating trust and respect within their
community and profession.
Myths and Facts
Myth: “Children are always safe in groups.”
FACT: This is not always true: young children have, for
example, been sexually assaulted in nursery school while
other adults and children were present.
Myths and Facts
Myth: “You can’t cuddle a child who’s upset or touch them
in any way.”
Fact: If the touch is initiated by the child and the adult is
sensitive about how they comfort a child, then this is not
abusive behaviour.
What do abusers say?
• “I go looking for a kid in swimming pools”
• “I’d fantasise about contact prior to the abuse – in my
mind I planned the contact”
• “If the child was troublesome or a loner, people would be
less likely to listen to them”
What do abusers say?
• “When I got the job, it was like walking into a sweet shop
and I could pick what I wanted”
• “I got to know his family and offered to take him away to
give them a break”
• “My major ploy was that I was too nice to be doing
anything”
What stops them? What abusers say:
• “Always ensure more than one adult is working with a
child”
• “No locked doors”
• “Tighter laws looking into our backgrounds”
• “The children who stopped me doing any more”
• “People in authority need to be brave enough to imagine it
was happening”
Why target through organisations?
• Proximity and access to children
• Opportunity to befriend – develop trust
• Meet vulnerable children
• Gain status, power and influence over children (and
parents)
• Gain status, power or influence within an organisation
Grooming. What is it?
The criminal activity of becoming friends with a
child, in order to try to persuade the child to have a
sexual relationship with an adult.
Grooming. How does it work?
• Overcomes the resistance of the child
• Prevents the child from telling
• Ensures that abuse can continue undetected
• Involves threats, appeals and rewards
• Makes the child feel responsible for the adult’s behaviour
Grooming
Legal definition of online grooming
Section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 makes it an
offence for an adult who has established contact with a
child on at least two occasions to meet, or travel with the
intention of meeting a child, with intent to commit a sexual
offence against that child. The offence is punishable by up
to ten years imprisonment.
Facebook, Twitter etc
BB Online Safeguarding Policy
Leaders should not be in one
to one online or text
communication with young
people outside of BB hours
Factors which increase risk of abuse in
Youth Organisations
• Lack of supervision
• Position of power and trust
• Regularity of contact
• The vulnerability of the child
• Overnight stays, trips away
• Need for physical contact
Prevention
How many of these did you get?
• Rigorous recruitment and selection
• Proper supervision
• Code of Good Practice
• Information displayed and distributed
• Training
• Whistleblowing policy (volunteers can discuss their
concerns anonymously or in confidence)
• Advice and guidance easily accessed
• Regular monitoring and reviewing of Company practice
Finally…
It is often said that adults working with children are at risk
of false accusations. This is not borne out by statistics.
Approximately 2% of reported abuse is unfounded.
By following the BB Code of Good Practice you are
protecting children and protecting yourself from situations
that can be misconstrued or difficult to manage.