It was on a Monday morning at the beginning of December that we jumped in the car and braved the windy roads up to Blackburn to visit Nick and the Engage team. On arrival we weren’t sure if we had actually arrived at the filming of ‘Phoenix Nights’ – we we’re relieved to find out that it was just the weekly bingo session in the community centre where Engage is based.

Engage is a multi-agency team made up from public services and voluntary organisations that works together to help protect young people from Sexual Exploitation in Blackburn with Darwen. Recently Engage received an Exemplary and Outstanding Ofsted report as model for best practice. Working with over 1500 young people over the past 4 years, Engage have supported these young people through 1:1 work, family work, witness care, return interviews and group work. It was great to see the way Engage kept young people and their parents at the centre of what they do. Around the building in which Engage is located, they have young people’s artwork on display.

Also, to hear about the work they have been doing with the CPS to look at what best practice is for supporting young people through the prosecution processes. A big thank you to Nick and the team at Engage for letting us hang out with them for the day!