Sylvia’s story

Expect Respect supports girls and young women at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation. Relationships with the young women are based on mutual trust, with the team of Caseworkers having lived experience of these issues themselves.

When we first met 13-year-old Sylvia (name changed to protect her confidentiality) she was at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation. She was talking to older men online and had been coerced into sending images of herself.

Thankfully the Designated Safeguarding Lead at her school referred her to our Expect Respect team who support girls and young women at risk. Through providing staff with lived experience of the issues the girls are experiencing, Expect Respect provides both practical and emotional support to keep girls and young women safe, alongside enabling them to thrive.

Sylvia needed intensive support with online safety, identifying healthy relationships and self-worth. She engaged well with her Expect Respect Caseworker Anna (name changed for confidentiality) and started to open up to her family situation. Sylvia is selectively mute which can sometimes make forming relationships a challenge.  However, through Anna’s support she started to build confidence, resilience and identify risks to her safety and wellbeing.

Sylvia is keen on art and Anna encouraged her to join a local club, which meant she could form friendships with likeminded young people in a safe space.  Alongside this, she started to flourish at school, enjoying her lessons and mixing with her peers.

As Sylvia developed confidence and healthy friendships, her risk levels reduced. Her story shows the power of early interventions and trusted relationships in keeping young people safe from harm.