A free app designed to help teachers and schools teach young people about the warning signs of child sexual exploitation has been launched by children’s charity Barnardo’s.
Produced with support from Microsoft, the Wud U? app (pictured) consists of several scenarios that any teenager might face and sets out the sorts of circumstances in which young people may be led into being sexually exploited.
In each scenario, the user is asked to think about what they might do in similar situations and is then given advice about the decisions they make.
The app includes information about further resources and support related to the issues it raises.
Barnardo’s worked with more than 2,500 sexually exploited children last year and the app is part of a long-running campaign which has included a television advert aimed at helping parents to spot the signs of exploitation. The charity has also published its Bwise2 Sexual Exploitation resource pack for teachers.
Barnardo’s director Michelle Lee-Izu said: “A vital part of empowering children to protect themselves against sexualexploitation is getting young people to think for themselves which scenarios might put them at risk.
“We want all children to be able to identify what a healthy relationship looks like, so that when they are with a partner, at a party or just chatting online they make good decisions.”
The Wud U? app is available to download free of charge from the Microsoft App store, the Apple store and Google play. Visit www.barnardos.org.uk