News
These are the most recent BLAST! Project news and developments.
New DVD to Raise Awareness of the Grooming and Sexual Exploitation of Boys and Young Men - UPDATE
New DVD to Raise Awareness of the Grooming and Sexual Exploitation of Boys and Young Men - UPDATE
May 2012
Further to our news article published in January this year, we are delighted to announce that a producer has been hired to create the DVD which will highlight the grooming an sexual exploiation of boys and young men.
Sarah Senior is an award winning creative producer based in Bradford and has experience of working on shows such as the X-Factor and Britain's Got Talent. Sarah founded her production company in 2004 ans has produced over 200 corporate and commercial works including numerous dramas.
The BLAST Project is very much looking forward to working with Sarah to ensure a much needed DVD is created that will go towards raising awareness and making a difference. The scripts are being developed as we speak.
The DVD will consist of three short scenarios which will show how different boys from different backgrounds are groomed and exploited in different ways by different people. The BLAST Project has never received statutory funding to ensure the project continues so this resource not only aims to raise awareness and make a difference, but also generates income for the project.
We are very excited here at the BLAST Project and we will keep you up-to-date with new developments.
Funding Secured for New DVD
New DVD!
January 2012
The BLAST Project has secured funding to create a DVD which will highlight how boys and young men can be groomed and trafficked for sexual exploitation.
Over the last year the BLAST Project has been applying for funding from a number of charities, to create a DVD which highlights how boys and young men can be groomed and sexually exploited. There are a number of resources used to address grooming and sexual exploitation and they range from interactive CD Roms, to visual activities, to DVDs. DVDs have always been very popular and have been used in groups as well as on a 1-2-1 basis.
Unfortunately the majority of the resources and DVDs available focus on how girls and young women (not boys and young men) can be groomed and sexually exploited. A number of boys and young men have found these resources difficult to relate to.
The BLAST Project conducted research which included interviewing a large number of professionals and consulting with various boys and young men (some with previous experience of being groomed and sexually exploited) and all of those involved in the research said they felt a DVD focusing on how ONLY boys and young men can be groomed and sexually exploited would be useful.
The BLAST Project is passionate about ensuring boys and young men are not forgotten about and that as many people as possible have their awareness raised to the fact that boys and young men can be groomed and sexually exploited - not just girls and young women.
Thanks to funding from the Leeds based charity Jimbo's Fund, we are in the process of working with a Bradford based film company, and we plan to have a film maker in post by the end of March.
This is a very exciting time for the BLAST Project. Such a resource has been met with lots of enthusiasm and it will go towards challenging the assumption that boys and young men are not sexually exploited.
For further details please contact Phil Mitchell, the project coordinator on 07921 372896.
BLAST in the Media
November 2011
Since appearing live on Chanel 4 News in September 2011 the BLAST Project has been approached by various members of the media keen to know more about the sexual exploitation of boys and young men as well as the vital work of the BLAST Project.
In October 2011 the BLAST Project appeared live on Bradford Community Radio to talk about how boys and young men can be groomed and sexually exploited and in November 2011 the BLAST Project appeared live on BBC Radio Leeds to explain how young men, as well as young women can be involved in sex work.
Also, in November 2011 the BLAST Project appeared in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus and on the BBC News Website to highlight how male students are turning to sex work to raise money.
Click here to view the Bradford Telegraph and Argus article and click here to view the BBC News Website article.
The BLAST! Project on Channel 4 News!
September 2011
The profile of the BLAST project was raised recently due to an appearance on Channel 4 News. Phil Mitchell, the BLAST! Project co-ordinator, was contacted by the show’s producers to be interviewed live on air as part of a special feature discussing the sexual exploitation of young people.
The show discussed a report published by Barnardo’s that highlighted the “hidden issue” of boys and young men being sexually exploited. One young man’s story about being groomed and subsequently sexually exploited was shown which will help to bring the issue to the public consciousness.
Phil discussed the services provided by BLAST to boys and young men and touched on how it is often difficult to establish how many boys sexual exploitation affects due to the reluctance of young men to discuss what has happened through fear of being branded weak or a victim. Phil emphasised that the project works with boys of all sexualities from all backgrounds with numerous issues; that can also include mental health problems.
He highlighted the valuable work being carried out in schools although stressed that more needs to be done on the part of some schools and local communities to accept that the issue is going on and raise the awareness of what can often be a very difficult subject matter. He acknowledged that the work would not be possible without funding from Comic Relief and Esmee Fairburn which hopefully will help the public realise the importance of donating money to these organisations.
Channel 4 has said they would be keen to contact BLAST again at some point in the future to discuss the issue further. The publicity was certainly effective as the following day in school Phil was recognised not only by members of staff but young people too, one of whom exclaimed that it was “Phil from the telly!”
To see the story of the boy who was groomed and exploited, please click the link below:
http://www.channel4.com/news/the-untold-story-of-child-sexual-exploitation
To see Phil Mitchell, the BLAST Project Co-ordinator being interviewed by newsreader Jon Snow click the link below and view the second video:
New Training and Development Worker Recruited
July 2011
The BLAST! Project has just recruited a new part time Training and Development Worker. Thanks to funding from Comic Relief and Esmee Fairbairn, Cheryl Laird started in early September and she will be a welcome addition to the project.
An Introduction from Cheryl
My name’s Cheryl Laird. I’m delighted to be the new Training and Development Worker for the BLAST! Project. I never really know where to start with these things so I’ll try the beginning. Seems logical. I became interested in working in social care and particularly with young people whilst studying Health and Community Studies at the University of Huddersfield. To help fund my studies and to gain some experience, I was very lucky to find a job at what was then Barnardo’s Missing in Yorkshire Scheme. Here I developed an interest in working with young people who ran away from home and was involved in the user led steering group, which I thought was fantastic.
After graduating, I went on to work for Lifeline Kirklees as a Community Drug and Alcohol Worker. Here I worked with young people and families who were affected by substance use. I also delivered drug and alcohol sessions as part of school PHSE lessons. I worked alongside other agencies to set up a one stop shop of health and social care services for young people on the campus of a local school, which was really exciting.
Whilst at Lifeline I was bitten by the travel bug and as a result spent one year working in Australia at a young person’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit. On returning to the UK my feet very quickly became itchy for another adventure and that led me to spend a year teaching English to high school students in Nara, Japan. Both of these experiences were very different although equally incredible and challenging.
Outside of work my interests involve travelling (have I mentioned that somewhere before?), reading, cooking and running. I love music and can quite often be found watching a band somewhere or at home trawling through ITunes looking for some new stuff. I enjoy being outdoors either walking or camping or sometimes mountain climbing; the last one we conquered was Ben Nevis! So here I am, back in the UK and looking forward to my new post at the BLAST! Project.