A MULTI-agency conference is taking place this week to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE).

The event is aimed at professionals working with children and will take place on Thursday at Newton Rigg, Penrith.

Some of the issues covered will include the signs of CSE that parents and adults can look out for, information about how CSE affects both boys and girls, and how it is tackled in Cumbria.

People can follow the advice and information via the hashtag #CSECumbria.

The conference is being hosted by Cumbria Constabulary, Inspira and the Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB).

The conference will provide frontline staff (i.e. practitioners, teachers, and other professionals working directly with children) with the opportunity to hear about the issues of CSE from the perspective of the child, the parent and other practitioners helping to recognise the children who may be vulnerable.

A victim of CSE will also be addressing the conference about her own personal experiences.

Mark Bowman, Chief Executive of Inspira and Chair of the CSE/Missing from Home Group, said: “Raising awareness of child sexual abuse is an important part of our work as a member of LSCB and what we do as Inspira

“Young people, parents, schools and agencies all need to know the signs to look out for, and where to turn for help.”