Understanding the Exploitation of Girls and Young Women

Girls and young women affected by exploitation often remain hidden in plain sight. Their experiences can present differently to those of boys and young men resulting in them being overlooked, misidentified, or viewed solely through the lens of offending behaviour. Gender stereotypes, victim-blaming narratives and a lack of recognition of coercive control can all contribute to missed safeguarding opportunities.

Making the Invisible Visible has been developed to increase awareness, understanding and professional confidence in identifying and responding to the exploitation of girls and young women.

The training explores the complex realities of exploitation, recognising that girls and young women may be victims, survivors, and in some circumstances perpetrators, often simultaneously. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the hidden nature of exploitation and the importance of adopting a trauma-informed and gender-responsive approach.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of female specific vulnerabilities and pathways into exploitation.
• Explore grooming, coercive control, trauma bonding and the "boyfriend model".
• Recognise the overlap between criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation, domestic abuse and serious violence.
• Understand how exploitation can be hidden behind presenting behaviours such as offending, aggression, substance misuse, missing episodes and/or disengagement from services.
• Challenge gender stereotypes and victim-blaming language.
• Increase confidence in recognising signs, indicators and the risk unique to girls and young women.
• Develop a greater understanding of trauma informed and survivor centred practice.
• Strengthen multi-agency responses to identification, safeguarding and support.

Scenario-Based Learning and Lived Experience Workshop

Building on the awareness training, a second phase will provide participants with the opportunity to apply their learning through interactive scenario-based workshops and lived experience-informed discussions. This practical workshop will focus on translating knowledge into professional practice by exploring realistic safeguarding situations involving girls and young women affected by exploitation.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Analyse scenarios reflecting common presentations of exploitation.
• Explore complex situations where victimisation is masked by offending behaviour.
• Identify missed opportunities for intervention and safeguarding.
• Consider the impact of language, professional bias and decision-making.
• Apply trauma-informed approaches to assessment and risk management.
• Strengthen multi-agency problem-solving and information sharing.
• Learn from survivor informed insights to better understand the realities of exploitation and barriers to disclosure.

The workshop is designed to challenge assumptions and improve confidence for professionals when navigating complex safeguarding concerns involving girls and young women.