AFRUCA SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
Help us to protect more children in our community
With offices in London and Manchester, we work in UK Black and Ethnic communities to protect and safeguard children from abuse, modern slavery and exploitation. We tackle cultural and religious practices that harm children.
Our
Services
-
![Outdoor Spaces icon]()
Child Exploitation and Serious Violence Programme
AFRUCA delivers a holistic menu of services to support children, young people and families in Black and ethnic communities at risk of or affected by child exploitation and serious violence. Our prevention and early intervention work includes provision of 1-2-1 support for parents of children at risk and providing mentoring, practical support and learning activities for young people.
-
![]()
Healing and Reconciliation Service for Children at Risk or Returning Home From Foster Care
We provide short-term psychotherapy for children in the child protection system or those returning home from foster care and their families. We aim to help rebuild the family bond, rebuild trust and support children to heal from their experiences
-
![Decks and Patios icon]()
Child Protection and Family Support Service
Our multi - disciplinary team of experienced and qualified social workers provide a culturally tailored consultation service for child protection professionals and, Child Protection assessment, positive parenting training and support services for parents in the UK Child Protection system. We take referrals from local authorities and other agencies across the UK.
-
![]()
AFRUCA Specialist Training Programme For Professionals
We deliver a range of specialist training programmes for agencies and their staff working with Black and Ethnic children and families and those who provide services to meet their needs. We tailor make bespoke courses to meet organisational needs and priorities. Our training sessions are deiivered face-to-face or virtually
-
![]()
AFRUCA's Networks of Influence
Our “Networks of Influence” aim to strengthen the voices of marginalised communities across the country affected by modern slavery, child protection and child exploitation. We want to create opportunities for grass-root collaborative and partnership approaches to tackle issues affecting our communities.
-
![Custom Additions icon]()
Modern Slavery Programme
AFRUCA works to address modern slavery and exploitation experienced by children and young people trafficked into the UK. We partner with other agencies to provide culturally appropriate support and care to meet their needs.
-
![]()
Community Volunteering Programme
AFRUCA employs a volunteer-led approach to address many of the issues that affect children in Black and ethnic community across England. The idea is to create a ripple effect of change through peer-to-peer learning and active citizenship. We have devised a range of Community Champions initiatives focusing on a range of issues, including Modern Slavery, Child Protection and Female Genital Mutilation
-
![]()
Community Education Programme
AFRUCA works in partnership with a range of community and faith based organisations to improve knowledge of child safeguarding and how to keep children safe from abuse and harm.
-
![]()
Schools Education Programme
AFRUCA works with schools, colleges and alternative education provisions across the country to deliver training courses to meet the needs of pupils, staff and parents. We work with schools to raise awareness about different forms of intra and extra-familial harm towards children
What People Say About AFRUCA
Silent Wounds, Generational Impact: Unpacking FGM, Maternity Discrimination and Their Effects on Children’s Well-Being
Date: 25 November 2024
Time: 11am to 1pm
Venue: ZOOM event
In honour of International Day on the Elimination of Violence aganst Women and Girls, we invite you to this special online round-table event by AFRUCA. Our event will bring together experts, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and advocates to explore the critical issues of FGM and maternity care disparities, and their impact on Black women and children’s well-being. Our goal is to raise awareness, advocate for culturally competent care, and push for systemic changes to better support Black and minority ethnic communities.
The programme will feature stories and perspectives of lived experts, alongside discussions with healthcare professionals, community leaders, and advocates, making this a unique and powerful platform for learning and dialogue.
We warmly invite you to join us and be part of this essential conversation.
Register here
Free Safeguarding and Child Protection Training for Faith Leaders and Workers in Hackney
We are delighted to partner with City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership to deliver free, comprehensive full day training for faith leaders, workers and volunteers in local Black and African churches, mosques and other places of worship across Hackney.
We are concerned about the high number of African and Caribbean children being removed from their families due to allegations of physical chastisement. We are holding this training programme so we can work with local faith groups to build their capacity to support their congregants to address this problem and save more of our children from going into foster care.
This training course will be culturally focused and will empower faith workers to become confident in talking to parents/carers directly about safeguarding children in the context of their Church, Mosque or place of worship and help them to better understand UK law and expectations surrounding physical chastisement.
By the end of the training course, participants will gain new knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, how physical chastisement can be harmful to children and how to keep children safe in the place of worship. They will also understand how children can be at risk of harm in the faith setting and what to do about it.
We will hold three different sessions of full day training (10am to 4pm) for up to 30 participants each.
We are inviting faith group to nominate 2 candidates to attend the second training session on Saturday 18 January 2025 at Homerton Library. Free African and Caribbean lunch and refreshments will be provided.
If your faith group is based in Hackney and you are interested in participating in the free training, please contact us here
Vacancies
Independent Children and Family Psychotherapists (London or Manchester)
Are you a Qualified, BACP/UKCP registered or accredited psychotherapist with an interest in the cultural aspects of therapeutic practice?
Do you have at least two years post qualification experience?
Do you practice an integrative person centred approach (parents and children) and/or play or arts therapy (children) to work with clients?
Would you like a role that enables you to support Black and Ethnic families to create a positive and safer environment for children?
Do you have the empathy, compassion and dedication to go over and beyond for children and their families in need?
Are you keen to broaden your understanding of the links between culture and safeguarding to improve your practice?
If this is you, then click here to find out more and apply!
It’s Time to Address the Racial Disparities Experienced by Black Children
In this blog for AFRUCA website, AFRUCA CEO Debbie Ariyo argues that the time is right to address the racial disparities experienced by children in Black and ethnic communities across the country.
Read more
AFRUCA Training Brochure For Agencies Working With Black and Ethnic Children and Families 2024-2025
Over the past twenty three years, AFRUCA Safeguarding Children has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience delivering specialist training courses aimed at enhancing the knowledge, skills and confidence of practitioners working with children and their families from diverse backgrounds. We work with agencies nation-wide and across Europe to design relevant training courses which are delivered inhouse - face to face or remotely.
Our 2024-2025 training brochure for agencies working with Black and Ethnic children and families has been released.
The Knowledge Mobilisation For Public Health Research Project
We are delighted to be part of a team of experts working on this important project - the Knowledge Mobilisation for Public Health Project (KNOW-PH). Funded by the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research), KNOW-PH aims to bring research evidence generated by NIHR closer to local and national public health decision-making. The project is a partnership between University of Nottingham, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Sheffield, City of Doncaster Council and AFRUCA Safeguarding Children. This is a three year project.
Read more on the project website here
AFRUCA #10 ASKs From the New UK Government
Based on our work with children and families, here are our 10 asks from the new UK government to help improve outcomes for children in Black and ethnic communities. Click on image to read more on our instagram page
AFRUCA News: November 2024 Activities
We had such a wonderful session on Saturday 16 November at our first training programme on Child Safeguarding and Protection for Black faith leaders and workers in Hackney.
We were delighted to have Shiloh Pentecostal Church, Redeemed Church Place of Victory, Christ Royal Church, Christ Miracle Church Mission, Christ Temple Ministries, Seventh Day Adventist, Christian Assembly send their representatives to attend this important event.
This was a very interesting and interactive conversation with participants exploring how to keep children safe, especially in relation to physical chastisement - the main reason Black children are removed from their families. We discussed the different ways children can be at risk of harm in and away from the faith setting and how faith organisations can put in place provisions to enhance the safety of children. Participants completed the training with better knowledge and understanding of how to support/educate families attending their faith groups so they can better protect their children.
Many thanks to City and Hackney Child Safeguarding Partnership for funding this important programme. We are holding two further sessions on 18 January and 15 February 2025 for other faith organisations in the borough. Email: ekanem@Afruca.org to register
Join AFRUCA Talks: Our Free Online Forum For Parents
Community Engagement and Education are at the heart of our work at AFRUCA to prevent child abuse, trafficking, exploitation and modern slavery.
Contact us to arrange a session delivered by our staff and volunteer Children’s Champions for your agency, church, mosque, school or community group.
Child Protection Community Engagement and Education
The Guide: Understanding Child Protection In The UK
The "Guide" covers a range of subjects to support parents to strengthen their parenting knowledge and skills, identify risks of harm inside and outside the home and ultimately improve protection and safety for their children.
Ongoing
Activities
AFRUCA Public Facing Events Calendar
We’ve Been Safeguarding Children Since 2001
Prompted by the deaths of a number of newly arrived child ren in the UK, Debbie Ariyo, a former Civil Servant, founded AFRUCA in 2001 to address child safeguarding and child trafficking issues in African diaspora communities and provide services to help support children and families and rehabilitate victims.
Debbie Ariyo OBE - Founder and CEO
AFRUCA’s 20th Anniversary Documentary Video
Our
People
Our Current and Recent Funders
