Addressing violence & exploitation
We want to see a society where every child and young person is safe, can grow up without fear and is supported to achieve their goals in life.
In 2006, we were one of the first organisations to establish a lived experience led and delivered project addressing child criminal exploitation, staffed by people who had spent time in prison.
This work has won multiple awards and set a blueprint for our future direction in addressing this complex issue.
Lived experience is key - our staff have personal experience of the issues facing their clients. Professional training, combined with cultural competence, means we know we must earn young people’s trust. Authentic relationships increase engagement amongst the young people we are reaching.
Weapons-carrying is the result of deeper issues – poverty, family breakdown, trauma and lack of safety. Our work aims to address these issues to break cycles of violence and exploitation.
We provide a single, trusted point of contact where young people can talk to a trusted professional who can ensure their safety, advocate on their behalf and support engagement with other professionals.
Further reading:
Hospital work
We intervene at a critical “reachable moment” when young people are admitted with violence-related injuries and are most open to change
Professional training
Providing professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to support young people at risk of violence and exploitation
Trusted adult mentoring
Lived experience mentoring support for young people identified as being at risk of violence and exploitation
County lines and modern slavery
A multi-faceted, collaborative approach to address so-called county lines exploitation and modern slavery
Young women and girls
Trauma-informed, gender specific support for girls and young women experiencing or at risk of exploitation, abuse and violence
The origins of St Giles' violence & exploitation work
Watch this short film in which Junior Smart, who founded our original project working with young people in gangs, explains how the work was established and the approach it takes.
