Step Out

Started by Donnington Doorstep in June 2011, the Step Out Project works with young people who are being, or are at risk of being, exploited. Our project aims to enable young people at risk to make informed choices and be able to have appropriate, healthy and safe relationships, as well as awareness-raising about exploitation.

We work to protect young people in partnership with professionals across the city such as with the Kingfisher team, the MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub), police, schools and Social Services.

Although the Step Out Project began with a focus on child sexual exploitation following the publicity surrounding the Bullfinch trial in 2013, we recognise that there are newly understood forms of exploitation that are equally important to tackle (e.g. criminal exploitation county lines, modern slavery, trafficking). We work across the board, applying what we’ve learnt from working with victims of child sexual exploitation, in order to see children as victims, not criminals, and give them the help they need.

If you would like to be part of funding this vital work, please get in touch.