One year ago, St Giles launched its long-established work in schools across North Yorkshire to provide vital early intervention and support for young people at risk of violence and exploitation.
In the last year, the team have:
- supported 122 young people;
- 82 of these cases were child sexual exploitation, and
- 40 cases of child criminal exploitation.
- carried out 3,676 brief interventions
- delivered preventative & educational sessions to 10 schools across the county
The dedicated team in North Yorkshire has worked with 62 individuals, using their lived experience of the same challenges to provide bespoke one-to-one support, group sessions, and outreach work. Their work in schools equips young people with the knowledge and tools to stay safe from negative influences and be aware of the signs of exploitation in others. These efforts have helped young people build resilience, improve relationships, and take steps towards a brighter future.
Mikey’s* Story:
After years of exploitation and violence, 17-year-oldMikey was referred to St Giles for support. Having been groomed by a county line gang when he was 13, he was coerced into carrying and dealing drugs, experiencing horrific violence and repeated arrests. Despite moving to North Yorkshire for a fresh start, Mikey was soon targeted again. Through St Giles, he engaged in tailored sessions focusing on safety, exploitation, peer pressure, and self-esteem, ultimately breaking ties with local gangs and forming healthier friendships. Now enrolled in college studying mechanics, his family relationship has strengthened, and he feels optimistic about his future. Mikey says: “You were the only person that turned up for me and did what you said you’d do.”
St Giles delivers preventative and early intervention work across England and Wales to children and young people, as well as tailored training for parents and professionals. Funded by York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority, St Giles North Yorkshire continues to provide essential support, ensuring young people’s voices are heard and their safety prioritised.
Futher Information
St Giles Yorkshire
St Giles SOS+: Preventative work with young people
Parent & Professional Sessions – St Giles
Knife Crime: A Growing Crisis – St Giles