Explore Our Events
Upcoming Event
This interactive session brings a critical English perspective to how systems respond to children drawn into harm and offending—especially where criminal justice processes overshadow safeguarding duties.
Grounded in ECO’s direct professional and lived experience, the workshop will explore how exploitation, coercion, and structural inequality often lead to children being misidentified as offenders rather than recognised as children in need of protection.
During this workshop, participants will:
- Examine the concept of coercive offending and how children are pulled into harmful situations
- Explore how inequality, race and systemic bias shape decisions and outcomes in England
- Reflect on the gap between policy intent and frontline practice
- Identify opportunities to shift responses from prosecution to safeguarding
- Gain practical tools, including ECO’s diagnostic toolkit, to support rights‑based, proportionate decision‑making
This session is ideal for practitioners with a grounding in youth justice or safeguarding who want to deepen their understanding, challenge existing approaches, and strengthen safeguarding-led practice.
An English Perspective: From Criminalisation to Safeguarding—Reframing Children’s Involvement in Harm Through a Coercion Lens
Past Events
01 / Community Discussion with Lambeth Schools Patrol
This event invited families and communities to discuss fair support for children, promoting safeguarding over criminalisation and fostering understanding, respect, and positive systemic change.
02 / Safeguarding Champions: Child Exploitation and Why Language Matters with CFHD
A learning session exploring child exploitation, fair language, and supportive documentation, strengthening practitioner confidence and safeguarding practice with Devon professionals.
03 / Collaborative Discussion
Under Construction
“Sherry has been very responsive and shared such great passion and knowledge regarding no child being criminalised for their exploitation.
This gave a better understanding to health practitioners in Devon.
Thinking about our documentation when writing reports for children with examples of mental health, speech and Language needs.
Sherry was able to share what ECOCIC campaigns for and the need for appropriate language that matters.
Sherry was very inclusive with her approach to presenting, making practitioners feel save to ask questions and share experiences.”
— Debbie Bourne