A weekend residential took place at Dare Valley Country Park, Aberdare on Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th July 2014 with representatives from the Merthyr Tydfil Borough Wide Youth Forum Cabinet, SMT’s Up & Coming Young Reporters and specialists from SMT’s CREA8 project, to learn about Human Trafficking and to design child friendly resources for raising national awareness. The weekend was designed to establish understanding and a need to promote awareness of Child Sexual exploitation and safeguarding of those potentially vulnerable to modern forms of slavery.
Regional Lead for Community Cohesion Darren Ralph said “the course was deliberately intense and emotionally charged by discussion of a sensitive and complex subject. Our Youth Cabinet members and Young Reporters worked extremely hard to follow an agenda that was full and fast. Tasking the Children and Young People with this agenda is a first for Wales and seemingly, the UK and Welsh Government and the Crown Prosecution Service are equally as excited about this initiative.” Children, Young People & Partnerships Manager at Merthyr Council Chris Richards said that “the commitment and professionalism of the Cabinet to deliver on this agenda has been unwavering. They now identify trafficking as a serious safeguarding issue and they are passionate about advancing awareness to their peers”.
The DVD and educational resource pack was launched at a red carpet event on 16th October at Vue Cinema, Merthyr Tydfil.
The Film can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDFnTVlZE0k
