New Resources Added – Understanding the NRM (For Children)

We’ve added two important new resources to the ECO website resource section—designed specifically to help children understand the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

These guides, published by the UK Government, explain in clear, age-appropriate ways:

• what exploitation, trafficking and modern slavery are

• what the NRM is

• why a child might be referred

• what happens next

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK system used to identify and support people who may be victims of exploitation and modern slavery. 

What matters about these guides is simple but powerful:

They are written for children.

That shouldn’t be unusual—but it is.

Too often, the systems that make decisions about children are not explained to them in ways they can actually understand. These resources take a step in the right direction—helping children make sense of what is happening around them, and crucially, reinforcing:

Being referred into the NRM does not mean a child has done anything wrong.

We’ve added:

• A primary school-aged guide

• A secondary school-aged guide

Both are now available in our resource section for practitioners, families, and anyone supporting children who may be affected by exploitation.

At ECO, we believe access to clear, honest information is a fundamental part of protecting children.

Because children should not just be in systems.

They should be able to understand them.

Thanks to James Biggs for sharing these!

Written by: ECO