In recognising the wide spectrum of experiences, knowledge and insights we want to capture in the Delphi study, one of the key groups of experts we hope to engage are those with lived experience of CSA/E. In thinking about what we need to consider when involving 'experts by experience’, we consulted with our Young Researchers’ Advisory Panel (YRAP) to garner their thoughts and advice.

As part of the Our Voices III project, the team at the International Centre (IC) are undertaking a Delphi study to develop consensus on whether and how a participatory approach may add value to efforts to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSA/E). One of the first design decisions in setting up a Delphi study is to determine who has expertise on the topic under investigation. To help us consider this, we asked the IC’s Young Researchers’ Advisory Panel (YRAP) to share their perspectives on the groups of people they think are significant to young people affected by CSA/E. This blog, the first of two, shares some of the conversations and reflections that emerged from these discussions.

The International Centre: Researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking (IC) has been awarded a three-year grant from the Oak Foundation to coordinate the ‘Our Voices III’ project. This project builds on earlier work funded by Oak Foundation and Tides Foundation and involves a number of activities that aim to reduce child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSA/E) and improve responses by developing, evidencing and championing, ethical child-centred practice and research. One strand of this work includes the implementation of a study using the Delphi technique. In this blog Claire Cody, who will be leading on the Delphi study, outlines what a Delphi is and why the team are undertaking one.

Since 2018 the International Centre: researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking at the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom has been working in partnership with Different & Equal in Albania; the National Center for Child Abuse Prevention (NCCAP) in Moldova and ATINA in Serbia. Facilitators from each organisation have worked together with young people affected by sexual violence who have designed, organised and facilitated a number of advocacy activities addressing this issue in their countries. This blog summarises key learning from the implementation of this project.

‘Peer support’ is recognised as an important part of a trauma-informed response, so why are we not seeing more opportunities for peer support among young people affected by sexual violence?  This blog looks at some of the challenges and tensions identified in implementing peer support initiatives in this field.

On Monday 18th November, to mark the European Day on the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, the ‘International Centre, researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking’ (IC) at the University of Bedfordshire, in the UK will be sharing findings from the Our Voices Too Youth Advocacy Project

What are universities around the world doing to challenge sexual violence against children? How can they support participatory research? Find out in our new briefing. 

We would like to share findings from a participatory study on supporting mental health and wellbeing after sexual abuse in adolescence conducted by colleagues from 'The International Centre: Researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking', University of Bedfordshire. 

We are aiming to build a supportive community of academics (researchers, teachers and students) working to promote child centred, participatory and right’s based approaches to challenging sexual violence. Part of this initiative is building connections between universities and other researchers working in this and related fields. We have put together a brief information gathering exercise to identify academics and institutions involved in and/or interested in being part of this developing network.  If you are interested, we would love to hear more about your work!

In this new podcast we share some key findings from the Being Heard report, a review of the international evidence on youth participatory research on sexual violence against children. We focus in particular on a question that researchers and organisations working with young people often grapple with: can vulnerable young people, including those who have been affected by sexual violence, actually 'do research' on such a sensitive topic?

This 'call for evidence' hopes to identify information and materials which explore participatory peer support models with young people who have experienced sexual violence.

This 'call for evidence' hopes to identify information and materials which explore participatory approaches to children and young people’s involvement in research and consultation addressing sexual violence.

Isabelle Brodie is leading on the participation strand of the Alexi Project, an ambitious strategy developed by the Child Sexual Exploitation Funders’ Alliance (CSEFA). In this post she reflects on some of the key issues emerging from a  scoping review of the literature on participation and CSE which is published this week. You can read the reports here

The webinar will take place on 18th November 2015, 11am UK time.

In the summer of 2014 as part of the 'Our Voices' project, the project team at the University of Bedfordshire, together with country partner projects, organised a number of consultations with Youth Advisors across Albania, Bulgaria and the UK.