Aims: To raise awareness of how young women are groomed into and abused through sexual exploitation
Funding: From Walsall social services last year
Contact: Kelly Woodcock, Walsall youth offending service, 01922 493 006
The emphasis when pronouncing the name of this award-winning project should firmly be on the first two words. Sex, Lies and Love?, which has been running for two years, uses drama and the arts to teach young women about the dangers of sexual exploitation.
Around 170 young women aged 12 to 19 have so far taken part in the two-day project. It is a partnership between Walsall youth offending service, Walsall Street Teams and Walsall Youth Arts.
Kelly Woodcock (pictured above on the far right), group work co-ordinator for the youth offending service, says the project takes referrals from professionals in social services, health and education who come into contact with at-risk girls. Last year it was also piloted among Year 10 girls at a local secondary school.
On the first day of the programme, girls hear the story of Krystal, a 15-year-old who is groomed and abused by her older "boyfriend". Although she is a fictional character, her story has been constructed from real-life tales of young women.
The girls are also given the opportunity to advise Krystal and see the results of that advice acted out.
On the second day the girls take part in an arts and multimedia workshop.
"They create pieces of sculpture and graphic design representing the grooming process and around self-worth," says Woodcock, who received a Criminal Justice System Award last year from the Prime Minister for her work with the project.
She says the project has helped to make young women more aware of the "physical, emotional and sexual risks" involved in grooming.
What's next: The project held a conference last week for professionals in the voluntary and statutory sectors and Woodcock hopes it will encourage more people to provide funding.
