Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) in partnership with the NSPCC today launch a twelve-month long campaign to tackle child exploitation in Cumbria.

The new 'IT'S NOT OK' campaign will have an initial focus on child criminal exploitation, before moving on to topics including healthy relationships and online safety.

The county wide campaign will be communicated through a variety of channels including PR, social media, online, print as well as via a coalition of partners. Campaign materials are aimed at a range of ages and audiences including young people, parents, carers and practitioners, with the aim to make people aware of the signs of child exploitation and how it can be reported, to help reduce child exploitation in Cumbria.

The campaign will signpost the public to key sources of support, including the NSPCC website and helpline and Childline.

Your Role as a professional working with children & families

• Familiarise yourself with CE – we will be running a number of training events over the next 12 months
• Know how to spot the signs
• Speak out if you have concerns or use information to inform plans for vulnerable children
• Promote the campaign – on and offline
• Hold an event for parents/carers, professionals or young people
• Speak with a member of the campaign team to explore Train the Trainer opportunities – email cscp@cumbria.gov.uk for more information

How you can support/promote the campaign online 

The campaign provides a great opportunity for you to help us reach people across Cumbria and in your local community. To help you spread awareness of the campaign you can:

• Update your Facebook profile picture on your personal account using our new frame. Simply go to your profile on the Facebook app and tap “Edit” on your profile picture. Then tap “Add Frame”. Search “CE Cumbria”, select the frame and tap “Save”.
• Download and use our campaign MS Teams backgrounds and email banners – available in the resource section on our website 
• Look out for #ItsNotOK campaign posts on social media from Cumbria County Council and other partners and share them with your friends and followers. Every share helps us reach more people with our key messages.
• Subscribe to the CSCP e-newsletter to stay up to date at https://www.cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk/co.uk and follow @CumbriaSCP on Twitter.

Further support available

• Professionals with serious concerns about a child or young person needing protection should contact the Cumbria Safeguarding Hub on 0333 240 1727.