“WITHOUT them I would be in prison” .

That is just one of the bold claims made by Southend children speaking out in support of a crack council team preventing child exploitation.

The adolescent intervention and prevention team was launched in April 2018 by Southend Council, focussing on county line drug dealing, knife crime awareness, and keeping children in school and at a permanent home.

The team regularly visit schools carrying out talks, as well as visiting troubled youths at home and working with them in the community.

The team manages a caseload of young people on “early help plans” deemed to be at risk of child exploitation.

And the first year of the new team has been deemed a huge success - with children and teachers praising the scheme.

During the last financial year, 113 children were referred into the service and were put on plans.

The team use a range of tools to engage with at-risk youths - including spending time with children outside of their home, in school, and within their communities.

The aim is to divert them from large social risks - including the use of drugs, sale of drugs and crime.

And children within the system have been quick to praise the team.

One said: “It is a really good thing that I get to go out with him [the child’s social worker] to eat; the team is the best team to work with.

“Without everyone being involved, I would be in a lot of trouble or probably in prison.”

Another added: “I have never had a social worker who I trust and can have a laugh with. I know that you actually care, thank you for all the things you do.”

Children were also quick to praise a level of trust which has developed with the two social workers within the team - meaning youngsters feel at ease and comfortable discussing issues.

There is also a level of trust between the social workers, so the children felt comfortable discussing issues they are facing.

One added: “I know they report stuff but we understand that – I would do the same if I was worried about someone.”

Another said: “Other people talk about how bad you are but they don’t – they tell me when my behaviour is unacceptable but they don’t moan at me – they’re trying to help me.”

A third child who is part of the scheme stated they felt “like they care what happens” as well as asking why the child is behaving that way.

The child added: “Other social workers don’t ask why I do it.”

In its bid to prevent child exploitation, in its many forms, the team carry out street engagement, provide children missing education, child sexual exploitation and online protection workshops, as well as knife crime awareness.

As part of the knife crime awareness, the team have developed a workshop which is being delivered in schools to raise awareness of knife crime, gangs and county lines.

Three separate programmes have been designed to meet the needs of different age groups - in both primary and secondary school.

During the last school year, 57 workshops were carried out, with 2,148 pupils and teachers taking part.

The scheme has proved popular, with a number of schools requesting follow up sessions with additional age groups - praising the hard hitting nature.

One academy school’s feedback read: “I just wanted to let you know, that we are having such positive feedback from the groups you and your team have seen so far.

“So much so, that I have had requests from other departments for your email.

“I have had a special request from a teacher who has a very lively group of Year 11 boys, but who we feel have little awareness of the dangers that they are putting themselves in.

“We feel they would really benefit from having your expertise to explain to these boys of the potential harm they are putting themselves in, outside of school.”

“Do you think this is something you could do? Hard hitting is what we need for these boys.”

The council’s team also delivers awareness workshops looking at child sexual exploitation and online protection workshops, with 59 undertaken and 2,682 people attending.

These are delivered to primary school classes, with one teacher praising the “very open and honest” approach, allowing children to understand the “serious topics” being discussed.