The Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership, Violence Reduction Partnership and Somerset Council Learning & Development team are delighted to be hosting this year’s Serious Youth Violence & Child Exploitation Conference on Monday 25th November, 9am to 4.30pm, at Taunton Racecourse.
Growing numbers of young people in Somerset are experiencing both criminal and sexual exploitation, and the prevalence of Serious Youth Violence has increased across England and Wales since 2014, with increasing numbers of Somerset young people affected.
We recognise that tackling Serious Youth Violence (SYV), Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) requires a collaborative approach involving multi-agencies working together with a focus on identification, prevention and early intervention.
To do this, we must bring organisations together to share information, data and intelligence and encourage them to work together. Our aim is to create a safer environment for our young people and reduce the incidence of serious youth crime and child exploitation in Somerset.
The Serious Youth Violence & Child Exploitation Conference will bring together multi-agency professionals from across Somerset to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issues, to decipher how we can work more coherently to identify and support at risk children and young people.
Keynote Speakers:
Nana Bonsu – Director of Relational Practice, Children & Learning Camden
Nana is responsible for implementing a coherent practice model for Children & Learning in Camden, rooted in systemic and restorative methodology. Nana has over 20 years of experience and is an experienced senior leader, lecturer and author.
Darryl Laycock – Crime Prevention Consultant and Mentor
Darryl begun offending from his early teens however as he got older the offences became more serious. Throughout the time he was criminal minded he lost over 30 friends and family to violence. Darryl himself has survived being shot on 3 occasions and being stabbed 7 times. Released from prison in 2011 having spent more than 12 years in custody, Darryl made a promise to his immediate family members that he would refrain from committing any crime again. Find out more about Darryl here.
Dr Anna Ridell – The Bridge, Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
Dr Ridell works as a Consultant Paediatrician and Sexual Offences Examiner. SARC offers medical care, emotional and psychological support and practical help to anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted.
Conference Details:
- Conference is suitable for all front line practitioners and multi-agency staff.
- Places are limited and will be offered on a first come first serve basis.
- Lunch is included and a vegetarian option will be available.
