Jaci Quennell, children's services manager of the Merseyside Scheme, said the organisation had come across significant numbers of sexually exploited boys and young men during its work with young women.
"We've worked with about 200 girls and young women involved in sexual exploitation since the project started in 2000 and have noticed that there are almost as many boys involved," she said.
"It's hard to assess the numbers because it's a hidden problem, but it's likely to be about 10 times bigger than it appears."
The Merseyside Scheme, which is one of Barnardo's 18 Abuse Through Prostitution projects, will offer young people social and emotional support, and will help them to access other services.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
