WATCH: "He made her feel important...and absolutely terrified"

Tuesday 10 March 2020

The story of a self-conscious teenage girl, who finds ‘companionship’ online a with a man who makes her feel important, is being used to teach children how to identify the signs of grooming.

The play, which aims to promote safe and healthy relationships and raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE), is the result of work between the Jersey Safeguarding Partnership Board (JSPB) and local performance company Love Theatre.

Entitled ‘Karen’s Story’, the performance will be shown to all students in year 9 and 10 in the run-up to National CSE Awareness Day on 18 March.

It tells the story of a teen girl experiencing online grooming which leads to sexual exploitation.

Video: 'Karen's Story' is a collaboration between Love Theatre and the JSPB.

CSE is a type of sexual abuse occurring when an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or under-18 into sexual activity in exchange for something the victim needs or wants and/or for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. 

Love Theatre described the play as the story of 14-year-old Jersey girl called ‘Kaz’, who is struggling to find and accept herself, feeling very lost and lonely in the world of adolescence.

"Karen lacks self-esteem and is finding exam pressure way too much. Her parents are always on her back and she is jealous of all her friends who have boyfriends - she thinks she is ugly," they added.

"Spending the majority of her time on social media, she meets a man called David. David was caring, charming and handsome, showered her with gifts and gave her lots of attention. He made her feel important and absolutely terrified."

Video: The cast of 'Karen's Story' will be playing to all students in year 9 and 10.

By highlighting the risks of misusing the internet and social media in a “relatable and sensitive way”,  the play aims to educate children and young people about safe healthy relationships, safe internet use / “sexting”, consent while also explaining how exploitation can develop and what help and advice is available.

While incidents of CSE remain consistently very low in Jersey, Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull - the Vice Chair (Children’s) JSPB and lead for CSE campaign - said the board recognise it doesn't always have the “full picture”, particularly with vulnerable young people.

“Friends, parents, guardians and professionals are often best placed to recognise those tell-tale signs that may be out of character, including a change in behaviour,” he added. 

“The best form of prevention is education and we hope by increasing awareness, friends, parents, guardians, and professionals can be better placed to recognise warning signs of potential exploitation.”

Pictured: 'Karen's Story' tells the story of a teen girl experiencing online grooming which leads to sexual exploitation.

In addition to showing the play to about 1,500 students, the JSPB will be encouraging islanders to think, spot and speak out against abuse next Wednesday.

Members of the Board will be on King Street throughout the day to speak to the public and children about CSE awareness alongside Pantosaurus - a pants-wearing dinosaur that teaches children how to recognise sexual abuse.     

In addition, staff from the Youth Service will go into all secondary schools to deliver workshops on the warning signs of sexual exploitation and what help is available.

“The workshops are designed with various activities to ensure they are engaging, interesting and informal so that young people feel comfortable to ask difficult questions,” Principal Youth Officer for Jersey, Mark Capern said. “Islanders can show their support for the campaign by writing a personal pledge on their hand and post on social media using the hashtag #HelpingHands.” 

Any child or young person can call Childline on 0800 1111, which is free, private and confidential.