The YMCA WiSE Project provide specialist support to children and young people up to the age of 25 who are at risk of or experiencing CSE. We work across Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and Surrey.
YMCA WiSE Practitioners work collaboratively with other professionals, such as children’s services, police, health and education, to support interventions which keep children and young people safe, disrupt the activity of perpetrators and where possible, lead to prosecutions.
Please note that engagement with the YMCA WiSE Project is voluntary; professionals cannot include YMCA WiSE as a compulsory part of a child or young person’s contract, order or conditional agreement. You must ensure that you have discussed a referral to YMCA WiSE with the child or young person and got their consent. Contact your local YMCA WiSE office if you require support in explaining the role of the project to a child and young person.
Referral Process
Please note that for Sussex we have a closed referral pathway that is only open to Sussex Police. However, we can still support with professional consultations to create a bespoke package of support. Please complete our consultation referral form to access this. Referrals for Surrey continue to be open.
- We aim to respond to all referrals within 10 working days. Any urgent safeguarding matters need to be referred immediately to Children’s Social Care or the Police.
- We are a small team covering 3 counties and at times we may have to operate a waiting list.
- We may not always be able to accept a referral. When discussing our service with a young person and their family, it would be helpful if you could manage their expectations by advising that we may not always be able to accept the referral. If we are unable to accept a referral, we will always try to signpost and suggest onward referrals for the young person.
We offer three main forms of support through a Consultation service and Direct Work.
Professional Feedback Form
If we have supported you as a professional or a young person you are working with and would like to leave us feedback please click here. Feedback is really useful in shaping our future work.
Frequently asked questions
How can we Support?
*Please refrain from using victim blaming language such as ‘putting themselves at risk’ ‘wearing provocative clothing’
