Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page! Please take some time to read this information and consider sponsoring a support session, or giving anything you can towards them!

As many of you will know, I'm a Social Worker, and having worked in a Child Sexual Exploitation team before, I have an absolute passion for tackling the enslavement and abuse of young people through exploitation - whether that be criminal, county lines, sexual exploitation or modern day slavery. And yes, it's going on all around you, for any family, all of the time, in your town, in your village, in your child's school, and probably on your street!

Parents and carers are left feeling ashamed, terrified, and like the situation is their fault; but it isn't. Trying to exit an organised crime group is one of the most complex, difficult, frightening, and risky times for a young person. They are often being threatened daily, physically harmed, are drug addicted after it's been used as a grooming method, have debt bondage attached to them, and the exploiters have successfully distanced them from those who love them. Every minute of their life and every choice is controlled, and they aren't free to disclose.

A few years ago I worked with a mum whose son was trapped in exploitation by a serious organised crime group (gang) Her faith, determination and tenacity was honestly the most inspiring thing I've ever seen. We had many discussions about how there wasn't any 'peer' support available for parents to come together when they feel isolated, misunderstood and excluded. She simply said, "Together we can fight exploitation, make change and win as a community"...and so the idea was born!

Setting up this group is something that I've wanted to do for a couple of years, but I had to park the idea due to going through some challenging life events myself. After attending the 'Faith Driven Entrepreneurs' course run by Love Church in Bournemouth, I contacted Escapeline to float the idea.... and then, things really got moving!

I'm pleased to report that we have now set up a monthly face to face parent, carer and family exploitation support group in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area!!

I facilitate this group with the most inspiring woman called Annie, who has lived experience of exploitation herself, which lasted for around fifteen years. She sorted so many practicalities and brings so much more to the group than I ever could. The way she engages with the parents (who are always so surprised at her story!) is so invaluable. They just know that she 'gets it' and she's so courageous and genuine in how she answers the trickiest questions! I am so grateful to have become a little team with her.

There's also Lisa the charities CEO also working away in the background, and a parent volunteer with lived experience who has influenced this group through her ideas, wisdom, faith and kindness.

But, the reason for this fund raising?!....With a local venue kindly donating the first three sessions to us, we have now held three groups!

This week we had a probation officer/boxing coach guest speaker who donated her time to talk about diversion away from criminality and her work in mentoring young people through sport. It was amazing! The venue works really well for us as we have a basement room for a topic-based discussion and then an upstairs café area for attendees to talk to each other or just take some time out. It's also on main routes for buses and trains which is also helpful. We're going to try to structure it as collaboratively as we can - by asking families what they'd like or need to see, hear, learn or debate, and then Annie and I will try to create that for the next session!

We would LOVE to keep our support group going, but it costs us around £50 per month for venue costs and refreshments. Escapeline are also doing so much more in the background including processing referrals, risk assessments and engaging with families to promote attendance.

If you are able to 'sponsor a session' for £50, or give ANYTHING you can towards this, it will make such a difference to what Annie and I are growing here, in the total absence of any other similar services.

If you have any questions about the topic, you are always welcome to contact me, and you can find more information on the Escapeline website. Lisa the CEO started up this charity around eight years ago and is the hardest working person I think I've ever met!

Reaching our target and beyond allows Escapeline to continue their brilliant work with young people and families, and for us to secure the venue for some time ahead and start planning future sessions. And maybe (as the mum I worked with always imagined) a family day out in the summer to help them re-connect with each other and, despite everything that's going on, just have some fun!

Secretly, I'd love us to utterly smash the target and raise a whopping amount, so we can develop some of the many ideas that we all have!

The more young people and people in their networks that can be reached, the better.

Thank you so much everyone!

Rachel Houghton x