£2.5m pledged to support young victims of exploitation on Merseyside
The funding will provide support for anyone under 18 who has been affected by sexual or criminal exploitation, County Lines and trafficking.
Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell
More than £2.5m of funding has been pledged by Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner to support young victims of exploitation over the next five years.
Merseyside's PCC Emily Spurrell has partnered with Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral Councils to put together a package of funding to deliver the support service for all young people who have experienced or are at risk of, exploitation until March 2027.
The service is part of the commissioner’s package of care and support for victims of crime - Victim Care Merseyside - will be delivered by social enterprise Catch22.
Victim Care Merseyside which supports young people affected by both criminal and sexual exploitation was believed to be the first of its kind in the country when it was first commissioned in 2015.
After being reselected following a competitive tendering process, Catch22 will now receive £509,000 a year to provide support for anyone under 18 who has been affected by sexual or criminal exploitation, County Lines and trafficking.
With the funding, Catch22 will carry out screening and assessment to identify young people who are at risk of exploitation and deliver a programme of intervention and long-term support to ensure they are able to fully cope and recover and reduce any further risk. This includes one-to-one and group work.
They will also deliver training to young people, partners and professionals to raise awareness of the warning signs of exploitation and educate them on how to take action quickly to prevent it and protect a young person who is at risk.
PCC Emily Spurrell said: "Keeping our young people safe is a priority for me and for our local authorities.
"By pledging to fund this service for five years, we are showing how determined we are to raise awareness of this harmful and insidious crime, prevent exploitation of all kinds and provide high-quality specialist support to any young person who has suffered at the hands of those dangerous individuals who would seek to exploit them for their own gain."
Catch22’s Director of Young People and Families Kate Wareham said: "We’re thrilled to have been chosen to continue delivering what is a much-needed service for some of Merseyside’s most vulnerable and at risk children and young people.
"Over the last six years we’ve successfully helped hundreds of children and their families overcome the devastating effects of exploitation.
"We’re proud of the positive impact the service has had and the national recognition we’ve received for our commitment to multi-agency working.
"We thank the PCC for once again putting her trust in us to deliver – and look forward to helping more young people and their families who, tragically, fall victim to exploitation."
Cllr Jeanie Bell, St Helens Council’s cabinet member for safer, stronger communities said: "This funding will allow very important work to be done to help protect young vulnerable people in the local area from potentially life changing abuse or exploitation.
"Any steps that can be taken to prevent this kind of activity from happening or support those affected by it are extremely important ones. We hope that this latest funding commitment will enable us to work with our local partners and ensure that the right kind of action and support can be delivered to those that need it."
You can contact Catch22’s pan-Merseyside Child Exploitation Service by ringing 0151 666 4897 or email
If you’ve been affected by crime, for information and advice or to find an organisation to help, visit here
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