This book prompts deeply disturbing questions about the position of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in Britain today...socially isolated, lacking appropriate support systems and positive helping networks, struggling with issues of selfesteem and self-worth, in need of support and encouragement from practitioners. Taking account of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and young people (male or female - up to age 18) and the selling or 'swapping' of sexual 'favours' for some form of reward, as well as the production, sale, marketing and possession of pornographic material involving children; the distribution of pornographic pictures of children over the internet; and trafficking in children. This book addresses: how these commercial practices have come about; how young people become involved; what subsequently ensnares them; what needs to be done in practice in order to respond effectively to the young people's needs; what we have learned about what should not be done. Professionals from voluntary and statutory sector organisations, social work, youth work, the police - often working in partnership - share what has worked for them and for the young people with whom they are concerned. They explain how they deliver the services that these young people so desperately need. The outcome is an exciting opportunity for us to learn from each other and make massive steps forward in our work. "We hope that practitioners will feel they need this book and that it will help them to reflect on and develop their own practice in this field." The editors also argue that these services need to be 'mainstreamed' and attract resources, as well as regular and appropriate support for practitioners, enabling them to: be patient and offer a non-judgemental and non-discrimnatory ear and hand; establish trust and let the child know that they are 'there for them'; keep going in an area of practice where there are no magic wands or overnight solutions; work together over the almost certainly long haul to enable a child to exit from commercial sexual exploitation.

Table of Contents:
Of tricks and other things: An overview Margaret Melrose Historical constructions of child prostitution in England Alyson Brown Young people exploited through prostitution: A literature review Susan Drinkwater and Helen Greenwood with Margaret Melrose A multi-agency approach to exploited young people: The Nottingham experience Sue Gregory and Ian Winton The Sheffield ACPC sexual exploitation project Ann Lucas, Fiona Lothian, Marilyn Victor-Jefferson, Anne Byerley and Nicola Didlock Young people and prostitution; The response from Wolverhampton Tom Duffin The NSPCC 'Street Matters' project in London Nasima Patel and Jenny J. Pearce Terrence Higgins Trust West Street Team: Working with young men Tim Darch BASE: Delivering services to young people in Bristol Di Foley, Joanna Scammel and Rowena Wood The Genesis Project: Meeting the needs of young women in Leeds Lisa Wilkinson-Shaw Conclusions Margaret Melrose and David Barrett Bibliography