Not every child has the same Christmas – exploitation, gifts & safety
Christmas is a time where families come together, festive food is shared, telly specials are watched and children are wrapped up in the magic. But this isn’t the case for every child.
For a child who is being exploited, Christmas can be a very difficult time.
During the festive period, child exploitation can sometimes increase, with gifts such as laptops or phones making it easier for perpetrators to target, befriend and start grooming children and young people.
But support is available. Wirral Council’s Compass Team works directly with families and young people around a range of issues related to safeguarding and child exploitation.
One Wirral teenager, who has been supported by Compass, is hoping to help protect other young people from child exploitation, by sharing powerful poetry about her own experiences.
The poem, titled ‘The Friends Who Led Me Astray’ is a deeply heartfelt and moving piece about her experiences being criminally and sexually exploited as a child, betrayed by people she thought were her friends.
The teen, who remains anonymous, has written the piece as part of her healing journey. Thanks to her bravery and the support services around her, she is now safe, she’s learning to drive and has aspirations for her future.
Read the full poem, here:
The Friends Who Led Me Astray
They called my name with voices sweet,
Told me of the roads where we could meet-
Away from here, away from them
A life that felt like it could transcend
“Come with us, we’ll be just fine,
Escape with us, leave it all behind”.
And so I followed, lost in their sound,
Chasing freedom, running from the ground.
But with every step, I lost my way.
I left behind what mattered that day.
The laughter was hollow, the smiles were thin, their friendship felt like a game to win.
They told me to run, to leave it all,
But never once did they catch my fall.
In the chase, they were the spark,
But I was the one left in the dark.
I thought they cared, I thought they knew,
But the road I took just broke me through.
They weren’t the ones who stayed behind,
It was me – lost, travelling blind.
They spoke of adventure, of joy and light,
But the cost was clear in the dead of night.
No real friend would push you to break,
To run so far, to lose what’s at stake.
Now I see it – was I ever seen?
Or just a pawn in someone’s dream?
Their voices, once loud, now ring so hollow,
And I wonder, what was I meant to follow?
The freedom they promised, the lies they sold,
All came crashing, too much to hold.
But now I have found my truth, my way,
I’m not lost anymore today.
I have my friends, the ones who stay,
Who lift me up, who guide my way.
They don’t ask me to run, to flee,
They push me to be the best I can be.
With my boyfriend by my side, so true,
They helped me grow, they see me through.
No longer chasing shadows, lost and blind,
I’ve found the love and peace I’d hoped to find.
True friends don’t break you, they help you rise.
They see your worth, they open your eyes.
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There are signs of child exploitation that parents, guardians and friends can watch out for, if they’re concerned about the wellbeing of a young person.
Some of these signs; staying out late, new friendship groups, or disappearing for even a few hours, can be difficult to spot as they also mirror some of the usual signs of being a teenager - when many young people test boundaries as they figure out their place in the world.
But parents and carers should trust their instincts too. If you feel something is off, you can access support. And around Christmas, support services would suggest caution around expensive gifts from new friends – and ensuring that privacy settings are set on any technology.
Merseyside Police’s Eyes Open campaign highlights the ways gangs will groom children through the promises of gifts, attention and a ‘better’ life, only to find themselves trapped in dangerous situations. Initially, these ‘free’ gifts may seem harmless – new clothes, gadgets, money or free cannabis, other drugs or alcohol but there’s always a catch.
They are part of a calculated strategy to gain the child’s trust and loyalty. Once the child is dependent on the individual or group, they are coerced into criminal activities, often with threats of violence and blackmail. Families and loved ones of the child are also threatened.
If you want to learn more about the signs of child exploitation and Eyes Open visit: Eyes Open | Merseyside Police
If you have concerns about a young person in Wirral, visit: Concerned about a child - Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership.
