Over the past 17 years, our work in Wales has been protecting children from sexual abuse. Using a public health model of prevention, the team has demonstrated tangible impact and engaged with thousands of professionals, parents, families, and young people to raise awareness, build protective networks, and intervene before harm escalates.
This paper showcases our work over 17 years in Wales, setting out the impact we’ve delivered across all three levels of a public health approach to prevention – primary, secondary and tertiary. It highlights what has worked, what we’ve learned, and what now needs to happen.
Since 2008, our primary prevention public education campaigns and sessions have reached broad audiences and helped shift public dialogue around child sexual abuse. Our secondary-prevention work through our Parents Protect Plus programme has supported families at increased risk, including those with additional needs. Our tertiary prevention initiatives, including our work with those who have caused harm online, have helped individuals and families navigate the aftermath of abuse with safety and informed support.
The cumulative result is an evidence base on how and why a public health model not only works, but offers a sustainable and systemic response to child sexual abuse in Wales.
In 2023, we launched Shore, a unique online resource for teenagers worried about their own or someone else’s sexual thoughts, feelings or behaviour. Shore offers evidence-based information, self-help resources, and one-to-one support through live chat and secure email on issues including harmful sexual behaviour, consent, online risks, the law, and concerns about friends.
This Paper explores key trends from 23 years of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s Stop It Now helpline. This pioneering anonymous service exists to prevent child sexual abuse. Since 2002, we’ve given more than 79,000 people confidential support and expert guidance.
Technological interventions can deter people online from causing harm to children. From simple warning messages to behaviour-challenging chatbots, we are working on a range of initiatives to make life online safer for young
