Caring for a young person who has been trafficked

The trafficking of children and young people into the UK, often for purposes including sexual abuse, labour exploitation and criminal activity, has grown in scale in recent years, and more and more of these children are coming to the attention of local authorities. Are the foster carers being asked to look after these children sufficiently well informed about trafficking and its effects? And what do these children and young people need from their carers?

This guide, aimed at foster carers, provides information on what may have happened to trafficked children and young people, what to do if you are starting to look after a trafficked child, how a young person who has been trafficked may behave, and what they may need from their carers. The guide is illustrated with case studies and quotations from young people who have themselves been trafficked, and who talk about their stories.

Who is this book for?

This booklet is designed for foster carers who are caring for children and young people who have been, or may have been, trafficked into the UK.

What you will find in this book

This guide covers:

• Trafficking within and into the UK
• How children fall prey to traffickers
• Why young people may be trafficked and what happens to them once they are
• What to do if you are starting to look after a child who may have been trafficked
• How to identify that a child may have been trafficked
• How a young person may behave once placed, and the particular care they may need

Author

Eileen Fursland is a professional freelance writer. She has written a number of books and feature stories for magazines.