Schemes helping bullied and sexually exploited young Londoners get £1.5 million boost 

Projects helping children and young people being bullied, forced into prostitution or facing other forms of sexual exploitation have been given a £1.5 million funding boost by London Councils today (Wednesday).

Among the schemes that will receive funding is one that provides outreach workers to support young people under the age of 18 years who are being subjected to homophobic bullying,

Another project offers training schemes to help teachers and youth workers support young people in dealing with bullying or vulnerable to sexual exploitation - which could include helping those being forced into prostitution for money or drugs.

The London Councils' Grants Committee today agreed to provide £800,000 towards initiatives to identify and support children and young people facing sexual exploitation.  It also approved £680,000 for projects to reduce bullying and the impact it can have on a young person's self esteem and confidence.

London Councils received nine applications for funding to support the victims of sexual exploitation, with the Grants Committee commissioning two groups. There were 25 applications for funding for initiatives to reduce bullying with four groups being commissioned.

Figures from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) show that nationally 31 per cent of children experienced bullying during childhood, a further 7 per cent were discriminated against and 14 per cent were made to feel different or like an outsider.

Barnardo's estimates that there are 1,000 children in the capital who are at risk from sexual exploitation.

Among the schemes that will receive funding are:

Barnardo's will receive £647,284 over the next four years to expand their Sexual Exploitation Preventative Education programme. This will include providing training for social workers and other people working with children and young people to spot the signs of bullying and abuse, and how to provide effective support to the victims.

PACE will receive £152,716 over the next four years to provide support and advice to gay and bisexual young people who are at risk of sexual exploitation. It will also receive £190,476 over the next four years to develop a London wide programme to tackle homophobic bullying including a special education theatre tour.

Beatbullying will receive £325,252 over the next four years to help up to 500 young people in each borough with the affects of bullying. It will also develop training and share best practice on tackling bullying across all London boroughs.