Safer Children: Tackling Youth Violence & Child Exploitation

In response to rising concerns about serious youth violence (SYV) involving under-18s, Northumbria University researchers are leading innovative work to understand and address the root causes of youth harm and exploitation. Since 2020, Professor Sarah Soppitt, Dr Samantha Walker, and Dr Rebecca Oswald have undertaken a series of studies exploring the effectiveness of interventions and the need for a consistent, trauma-informed, and non-criminalising ‘Child First’ approach across all agencies working with affected young people.

Their research highlights the critical need for multi-agency collaboration to safeguard children—many of whom are victims of grooming, criminal exploitation, and social harm. However, findings reveal confusion and inconsistency around how ‘Child First’ principles are interpreted and applied in practice.

With support from the British Academy, the team’s latest project aims to assess how professionals and services understand and implement ‘Child First’ policies in the context of SYV. It explores barriers to this approach and the potential for a shared framework that genuinely supports the needs of vulnerable children.

A key outcome of this work is the establishment of Safer Children North-East, a regional knowledge-exchange network uniting practitioners, agencies, and young people. The network fosters innovation, prioritises youth voices, and addresses the impact of digital environments on vulnerability to violence and exploitation.

Full project title

Safer Children: Strengthening multi-agency collaboration to combat serious youth violence and child criminal exploitation