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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
We have been safeguarding children since 2001
Prompted by the deaths of a number of newly arrived children 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
Reverend Jide Turns 60!
We are delighted that long term AFRUCA friend, volunteer and supporter Rev Jide Macaulay is raising funds for us to celebrate his 60th birthday in November.
We are gratified by this major support for our work with children and families and we invite our friends and supporters to consider making a donation.
Please donate here
Black History Month: “Building Curiosity and Skills for Cross Cultural Practice”
Date: Thursday 23rd October 2025
Time: 11am - 12:30pm
AFRUCA invites you to a dynamic bitesize training session exploring cultural competency in safeguarding practice.
In the spirit of reflection, education, and action during Black History Month, this session is designed to equip professionals with the tools to better understand and support Black and ethnically diverse children and families through culturally responsive approaches.
This Black History Month, rethink safeguarding with AFRUCA. Join us for a practical, insightful session on cultural awareness in child protection. Fee - a modest £10 contribution to support our work.
Register here
AFRUCA Team Retreat
8-10 July 2025
The AFRUCA 2025 Team Retreat in Liverpool was really impactful. Our staff in both London and Manchester offices converged on Liverpool to explore our different work areas, strategise and discussed plans for celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2026. We were delighted to have our Chair Dr Sudhir Sethi discuss our growth and express his appreciation to all staff for their hard work. The highlight of our retreat was the presentation by Professor Alex Balch who spoke about strengthening collaboration between academia and small charities like AFRUCA. We are grateful to Dr Balch and the University of Liverpool for hosting us.
BASNET BME Modern Slavery Knowledge Mobilisation Conference
Date: Wednesday, 24th June 2025
Time: 9am - 4:300pm
Venue: The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace London SW1Y 5AH
Our Network BASNET - The UK BME Antislavery Network held its first Modern Slavery Knowledge Mobilisation Conference on Tuesday 24 June 2025 in Central London.
This special event showcased the outcomes of our latest research partnerships with BASNET members who are Black and Ethnic Minority-led organisations and Lived Experience Experts. We are grateful to the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network for hosting the conference at their prestigious premises in Central London.
Read more about the BASNET Knowledge Mobilisation programme and the research reports by BASNET members here
AFRUCA Cultural Influences and Child Safeguarding Study Group
Date: Thursday 26 June 2025
Time: 10am to 4:00pm
Venue: AFRUCA Head Office, Hackney
We hosted our third thought-provoking study group event, delving into the intersection of culture and safeguarding children. Led by our CEO Debbie Ariyo OBE and attended by a group of dedicated safeguarding professionals, through meaningful discussions we explored how cultural perspectives can enhance our knowledge and strategies in protecting young lives.
Together, let's continue to champion the safety and well-being of every child.
Keep an eye out for details of our next study group event and how to register.
AFRUCA Child Protection Service: Positive Parenting Programme
The AFRUCA Child Protection and Family Support Service is a paid service working nationally with Black, Asian and ethnic families open to local authority children’s social service. Our team of qualified social workers offer early intervention support, provide culturally focused specialist assessments and positive parenting training. We engage in direct work on child protection and care proceedings. We also support family re-integration processes and provide advice to social workers who might need help to address on-going cases. Each year, our service supports approximately 100 families referred to us by various local authorities nation-wide. Our aim is always to help achieve a positive outcome for the birth family and a happier and safer home environment for children.
We take referrals from England, Wales and Scotland.
Please read more about our service and download our referral form
Safeguarding and Child Protection Training for Faith Leaders and Workers in Hackney
There is no hard to reach community. Rather, agencies seeking to engage with faith and community groups should put in the efforts to build trust and engagement with them. We at AFRUCA are very proud to have delivered three successful sessions on “Safeguarding and Child Protection Training for Faith Leaders and Workers in Hackney” in November 2024, January and February 2025. We worked hard to engage over 80 delegates from over 20 Faith groups, ensuring very good participation and attendance at the sessions. Great opportunity to share learning on keeping children safe and enhancing protection in faith groups. Many thanks to City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership for funding this programme. We look forward to phase two - continuing our engagement with the faith groups in various ways.
Meet our Network - BASNET The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network
BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network is a project of AFRUCA Safeguarding Children. BASNET is very active in the UK Modern Slavery space as a platofrm to bridge the gap in race equality diversity and inclusion in modern slavery policy and practice. BASNET is engaged in various activities and programmes to help support its members, policy-makers, service providers and survivors of modern slavery.
BASNET is one of our “Networks of Influence” - our strategic alliances at AFRUCA to help strengthen our work in the community.
Read more about BASNET on the project website here
AFRUCA Training Brochure For Agencies Working With Black and Ethnic Children and Families 2024-2025
Over the past twenty four 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. Over 8,000 professionals have participated in our range of training courses over the past 10 years.
AFRUCA News: June to July 2025
AFRUCA engaged in various activities, bringing together safeguarding professionals, young people, families, community members and our staff as part of our ongoing work with children and families
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.
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
What People Say About AFRUCA
Ongoing
Activities
AFRUCA Public Facing Events Calendar
AFRUCA’s 20th Anniversary Documentary Video
Our
People
Our Current and Recent Funders
