The Preventing Child Abuse Conference 2025: A Proactive Approach to Safeguarding and Prevention
Supporters Include:
Overview:
Cases of child abuse continue to grow in the UK. Around 107,000 exploitation offences were reported in 2022, a 7.6% increase compared to 2021 and nearly quadruple the figure from 10 years ago. Moreover, evidence suggests many offences of exploitation against children go unreported. In the previous three years, the government has introduced the Online Safety Bill (2023) to support authorities in tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation, however:
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Dr Debra Allnock, Associate Professor, Safer Young Lives Research Centre, University of Bedfordshire (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Latest Government Updates on Child Abuse Prevention
- Considering the latest child safeguarding priorities of the new government
- Outlining the latest updates from the implementation of the Online Safety Act (2023)
- Considering how the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has shaped safeguarding policies
- Implementing a practical system of prevention that includes Primary Prevention, Secondary Prevention and Tertiary Prevention strategies
- Insights into the latest funding and resources available for initiatives working to tackle child exploitation
Sarah Smith, Innovation Programme Lead, Lucy Faithfull Foundation (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Lived Experience: Amplifying the Voices of Survivors
- Empowering victims of child abuse to speak openly about their experience and collaborate to develop recovery pathways and support plans
- Embedding the lived experience of child abuse survivors into policy and practise to create a positive impact in survivor outcomes
- Reframing debates and discussions of child abuse away from the perpetrators and towards the voices of victims to increase their visibility
- Insights into the barriers to access which prevent some children from speaking out and accessing support services
- Outlining good practise in supporting victims, such as, trauma informed practice, transitional safeguarding and complex safeguarding
Karen Garland, Research and Policy Officer, Marie Collins Foundation (CONFIRMED)
Megan Hinton, Victim and Survivor Advocate, Marie Collins Foundation (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: The Role of Local Authorities in Tackling Child Abuse and Exploitation
- Outlining the key responsibilities local authorities have in safeguarding
- Ensuring that local multi-agency strategies and systems are in place so that children being exploited or at risk of exploitation get a timely response
- Identifying children who could be at risk of exploitation, such as children in care/care leavers, unaccompanied migrant children and abusive family environments
- Highlighting lived experiences of victims/survivors in their area, specific locations causing concern and the particular periods when children are more at risk
Louise McCourt, Child Protection School Liaison Officer, Hertfordshire County Council (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Effective multi-agency working to safeguard children and young people
- Outlining the role of Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships in promoting effective multi-agency collaboration
- Examining the facilitators and barriers to successful joint safeguarding work at strategic and operational level
- Considering the impact of remote communication on multi-agency communication and decision-making
- Updates on forthcoming policy changes intended to strengthen multi-agency safeguarding practice
Professor Jenny Driscoll, Professor of Children’s Rights, Kings College London (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break
Case Study: Supporting Young People Online
- Outlining the specific content that children can be exposed to that could cause them harm, specifically, pro-suicide, pro-self-harm and pro-eating disorder
- Describing how positive online content can support young people with encouraging and supportive advice
- Considering how social media algorithms influence what young people see online and limiting their exposure to negative content
- Insights into how children feel when seeing negative online content, especially when they are already experiencing low self-esteem or worrying thoughts related to body image and mental health,
Ella Bradshaw, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, NSPCC (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Tackling AI-Generated Images of Sexual Abuse
- Explaining how AI tools are being exploited to create and distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and drawing upon real cases
- Outline the UK’s new laws criminalising the possession, creation and distribution of AI-generated CSAM
- Detail new powers given to the police to investigate and prevent AI-driven exploitation
- Advocating for tech companies to implement safeguards against AI misuse
Hannah Swirsky, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Internet Watch Foundation (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Breakout Networking
This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in safeguarding roles to protect children from abuse. We encourage you to share how you are currently working in partnership to increase awareness of child abuse, focus on the lived experience of survivors and discuss your most up-to-date safeguarding initiatives. Take this time to share your experiences and network with senior colleagues.
Comfort Break
Case Study: The Quilt Model ‘A Conversation We Never had about Healing from Child Sexual Abuse’
Candice Harris, Lived Experience Consultant and Author of Indescribable (CONFIRMED)
Gemma Halliwell, CEO, The Green House (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Implementing Practical Proactive Safeguarding Strategies to Prevent Child Abuse
- Outlining the recommendations from the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
- Ensuring practitioners can fulfil their roles and responsibilities in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse by reviewing and updating initial training, early career and ongoing professional development
- Identifying clear safeguarding pathways that supports practitioners that are first identified through investigation, assessment and the provision of help
- Ensuring there is a multi-agency approach to preventing child abuse in the family setting
Anna Glinski, Deputy Director, Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA Centre) (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Dr Debra Allnock, Associate Professor, Safer Young Lives Research Centre, University of Bedfordshire (CONFIRMED)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Confirmed Speakers
Karen Garland
Research and Policy Officer
Marie Collins Foundation
Megan Hinton
Victim and Survivor Advocate
Marie Collins Foundation
Ella Bradshaw
Policy and Public Affairs Officer
NSPCC
Testimonials
Knowledgable speakers and interesting discussion points. Great online platform and lots of learning to take away
Excellent day with very thought provoking speakers
Amazing conference with a range of excellent speakers offering unique insight into the ways in which we can tackle CSE as well as the challenges that we face in this journey
Really insightful conference on CSAE, brought to life by powerful survivor testimonials
Why You Should Attend
✓ Hear high-level keynotes on the latest updates and guidance on combating child exploitation
✓ Gain practical insights into identifying victims, creating effective referral pathways, and engaging with parents and carers
✓ Engage with senior colleagues from across the sector to discuss strategies for keeping children safe from abuse while online
✓ Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend?
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Examples |
| Teachers | Police |
| Designated Safeguarding Officers | Schools |
| Social Workers | LEA’s |
| Prevent Officers | Hospices |
| Online Safety Co-Ordinator’s | NHS |
| Strategic Analysts | Children Support Charities |
| Head of Safeguarding | Children Safeguarding Partnerships |
Pricing Options
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Voluntary Sector
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us using the enquiry form below.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
