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Webinar

Racial bias and best practice for Black and minoritised children at risk of violence and exploitation

Black, Asian and other minority ethnic children are over-represented in the criminal justice system, and this is particularly so for Black boys. Black children can also experience ‘adultification’, where they are viewed and treated as adults, rather than children. As a result of adultification, Black children are more likely to be viewed with suspicion and not receive the care and protection they need and deserve. At the same time, Black children may be under-represented in early intervention support services.

In this session, we will explore racial bias experienced by Black and minoritised children at risk of violence and exploitation, and we will consider best practice in supporting Black children and their families.

Speakers:

Dr Nicholas Marsh, founder and director of 10 AND 23, has over 20 years of experience as a child protection social worker and researcher. His work focuses on child exploitation and co-developing research-informed responses for adolescents and underserved people and communities. Nicholas is currently undertaking a research internship at Illinois’ Center for Victim Studies in Chicago.

Sussana Clapcott, Complex Safeguarding Social Worker at Trafford Council. Sussana is also a researcher and advocate of racial equality within exploitation services.

Debbie Ariyo OBE, Chief Executive of AFRUCA, a UK charity she founded in 2001 to address child safeguarding and child trafficking issues in African diaspora communities and provide support services for children and families and rehabilitate those affected. She has specialist expertise in addressing socio-cultural factors affecting the protection and safeguarding of children of Black and African origins in the UK and Europe.