{"id":3356,"date":"2025-08-06T08:35:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T08:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/?page_id=3356"},"modified":"2026-10-12T12:56:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T12:56:59","slug":"grooming-and-young-people","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/grooming-and-young-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Grooming and young people"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Grooming is manipulation\u2014disguised as care, friendship, or love.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust, or emotional connection with a young person to manipulate, exploit, or abuse them. It can happen in person or online, and the abuser may be a stranger or someone the young person knows\u2014even a family member, friend, teacher, or partner.<\/p>

Grooming is not always easy to spot. It often starts with kindness, gifts, attention, or flattery\u2014before turning into control, pressure, or abuse.<\/p>

Any child or young person can be targeted, regardless of background, gender, or identity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What Is Grooming?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Grooming is a deliberate process where the abuser:<\/span><\/p>

  1. Targets<\/b> a young person (often vulnerable or isolated)<\/span><\/li>
  2. Builds trust<\/b> by giving attention, gifts, compliments, or promises<\/span><\/li>
  3. Creates secrecy<\/b> or dependence (e.g. \u201cdon\u2019t tell anyone\u201d, \u201conly I understand you\u201d)<\/span><\/li>
  4. Introduces abuse<\/b>, including sexual, emotional, criminal, or financial exploitation<\/span><\/li>
  5. Uses threats or shame<\/b> to silence the young person and keep them trapped<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

    Groomers often use social media, gaming platforms, chat apps, or school\/community settings to access young people.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Forms of Grooming<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Grooming can lead to different types of abuse:<\/span><\/p>

    • Sexual abuse or exploitation<\/b> (CSE)<\/span><\/li>
    • Online abuse<\/b>, including sending sexual images or livestreaming<\/span><\/li>
    • Criminal exploitation<\/b>, such as gangs or \u201ccounty lines\u201d drug running<\/span><\/li>
    • Emotional manipulation<\/b>, including love-bombing or blackmail<\/span><\/li>
    • Radicalisation or ideological grooming<\/b><\/li>
    • Trafficking or coercion into marriage<\/b><\/li><\/ul>

      \u201cHe said he loved me. He gave me money, new clothes. Then he started asking for things back\u2014and said if I didn\u2019t, he\u2019d tell everyone what we did.\u201d<\/span>
      <\/span>\u2014 <\/span>Ella, age 15<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      How Grooming Affects Young People<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Grooming can lead to:<\/span><\/p>

      • Fear, anxiety, or trauma<\/span><\/li>
      • Guilt, shame, or confusion<\/span><\/li>
      • Self-harm or suicidal thoughts<\/span><\/li>
      • Withdrawal from school, family, or friends<\/span><\/li>
      • Being coerced into criminal activity<\/span><\/li>
      • Long-term difficulties with trust, relationships, or mental health<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Grooming is never the child\u2019s fault. The responsibility lies 100% with the abuser.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Spotting the Signs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        A young person who is being groomed may:<\/span><\/p>

        • Be secretive or withdrawn<\/span><\/li>
        • Receive gifts, money, or new items without explanation<\/span><\/li>
        • Spend excessive time online or be overly protective of their phone<\/span><\/li>
        • Be in contact with significantly older individuals<\/span><\/li>
        • Go missing, skip school, or stay out late<\/span><\/li>
        • Change their behaviour, appearance, or friendship groups<\/span><\/li>
        • Talk about a new “friend”, \u201cmentor\u201d, or \u201cboyfriend\/girlfriend\u201d who seems too involved<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

          Not all signs are obvious\u2014but if something feels wrong, it probably is.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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          Grooming and the Law (UK)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          Grooming is a criminal offence. This includes:<\/span><\/p>

          • Meeting a child with intent to commit abuse<\/span><\/li>
          • Sexual communication with a child<\/span><\/li>
          • Exploiting or coercing a child for sex, crime, or money<\/span><\/li>
          • Possessing or sharing indecent images of children<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

            Children under 16 cannot legally consent to sex with an adult\u2014and it is abuse, not a relationship.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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            We\u2019re Here to Help<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            If you or someone you know is being groomed\u2014or if you\u2019re unsure\u2014support is available.<\/span><\/p>

            We can help with:<\/span><\/p>

            • Safe disclosure and reporting<\/span><\/li>
            • Emotional and trauma-informed support<\/span><\/li>
            • Speaking to the police or safeguarding professionals<\/span><\/li>
            • Accessing counselling or legal advice<\/span><\/li>
            • Safety planning (including online)<\/span><\/li>
            • Supporting parents and carers to protect their children<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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              For Parents & Carers<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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              You don\u2019t have to be perfect to protect your child. You can:<\/span><\/p>

              • Keep open, non-judgemental communication<\/span><\/li>
              • Monitor online activity (without shaming)<\/span><\/li>
              • Discuss healthy relationships and boundaries early<\/span><\/li>
              • Teach children to recognise grooming tactics<\/span><\/li>
              • Encourage them to speak up if something feels wrong<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

                If you need support or advice, we’re here to listen and help you act safely.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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                For Schools, Youth Groups, and Professionals<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                We offer:<\/span><\/p>

                • Grooming and exploitation awareness training<\/span><\/li>
                • School workshops and youth sessions<\/span><\/li>
                • Resources for online safety and consent<\/span><\/li>
                • Professional safeguarding guidance<\/span><\/li>
                • Support with disclosures and referrals<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

                  Together, we can break the silence and protect young people.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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                  Every Young Person Deserves Safety<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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                  Grooming thrives on secrecy and shame. By speaking out, seeking help, or simply checking in with someone, you can be part of the solution.<\/span><\/p>

                  Abuse disguised as care is still abuse. If it feels wrong\u2014it probably is.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Grooming is manipulation\u2014disguised as care, friendship, or love. Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust, or emotional connection with a young person to manipulate, exploit, or abuse them. It can happen in person or online, and the abuser may be a stranger or someone the young person knows\u2014even a family member, friend, teacher, or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3356","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3356"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3356\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}