AFRUCA News
Keep up to date with our latest activities for children, young people, adults and professionals here.
January to April 2025 Highlights
Exclusive Study Groups on Culture and Safeguarding Children
AFRUCA has launched a series of exclusive Study Groups on the intersection of Culture, Religion and Safeguarding Children in Black and Ethnic communities for professionals working with children and young people. So far, we have held two Study Group sessions in January and April 2025. Both sessions were delivered by our CEO Debbie Ariyo OBE, one of the UK’s top experts on Culture and Safeguarding Children.
Our Study Groups are designed to be close and intimate sessions, affording a few number of participants the opportunity to deep dive into key safeguarding children issues and their intersection with race and culture. They are also spaces for professionals to explore ongoing issues in a safe and secured environment. The ultimate aim is to provide a strong opportunity to deepen participants’ knowledge and understanding of cultural sensitivity in safeguarding to help improve engagement and support for the children in their care.
We are now organising the Nexty Study Group event in London on 26 June 2025.
Read more and register here.
Silent Wounds, Generational Impact: Unpacking FGM, Maternity Discrimination and Their Effects on Children’s Well-Being
Date: Thursday 13 March 2025
Time: 11am to 1pm
Venue: ZOOM event
In honour of International Women and Girls Day 2025, AFRUCA held this essential and thought-provoking online round-table event. The discussions by panellists with lived experience, as well as experts and practitioners, explored the intertwined realities of the structural biases in healthcare, the intersecting issues Black women and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) survivors face, and the lasting impact on them and their families.
The conversations also focused on exploring the complex issues surrounding FGM and its impact on maternity discrimination. Also examined, were the physical and psychological trauma of FGM, the consequences of inadequate, culturally competent maternity care given to mothers who have experienced FGM and systemic biases against those from Black and Ethnic descent, all of which impact survivors.
Some recommendations put forward by the panellists included:
-Provision of specialist training to social and healthcare practitioners by people with lived experience around the issues of FGM and maternity care.
-Focus should be on providing culturally competent and individualised birth plans for FGM survivors, particularly first time mothers.
-Provision of adequate resources, aftercare and counselling for mothers who have undergone FGM.
-Training and awareness sessions targeted at men within Black and Ethnic communities to help them understand the lifelong physical and psychological impacts of FGM on survivors.
-Exploring in what ways, parents can be empowered to ensure that when they take their children abroad on holidays, the children are not at risk of FGM.
Book Launch: Safeguarding Children And Witchcraft Labelling In Social Work
Date: Monday 10 February 2025
Time: 2pm-4pm
Venue: Old Street Gallery, Shoreditch
AFRUCA is delighted to have collaborated with the former Chair of our Board of Trustees, Professor Prospera Tedam and her co-author Awura Adjoa to launch their new book: Safeguarding Children and Witchcraft Labelling in Social Work (second edition) on Monday 10 February at the Old Street Gallery, London.
This important publication is now available to purchase here
AFRUCA Training for Faith Groups in Hackney
January to October 2024 Highlights
AFRUCA Network - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network Celebrated its 5th Anniversary
Date: Thursday 10 October 2024
Time: 11pm-4pm
Venue: St Mary’s University, Twickenham
“Survivor Well-being and Protection in Government Safe Houses is Not a One-Size-Fits-All”
The Home Office should redesign the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract to take account of the holistic needs of survivors of modern slavery and enhance availability of cultural and human rights provisions that meet their needs because “one size does not fit all”.
This was the key outcome of the BASNET - The UK BME Anti-Slavery Network 5th anniversary conference held on October 10 2024, at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, London. The conference was held to help draw wider attention to the issues raised in our report: “The Safe House Is Not Safe” published earlier in the year.
AFRUCA Consultation With Black and Ethnic Parents in the UK Child Protection System
On 3 September 2024, AFRUCA held a closed consultative meeting with Black and Ethnic parents who have been involved in local authority child protection processes across the country.
We explored with participants their experiences of race inequality, discrimination and familial exclusion. We are thankful to all the parents who shared their experiences and offered sound ideas about how the system can be improved to ensure better intervention in families, increased empathy by practitioners and peer-to-peer support for parents going through the child protection system.
Our aim is to utilise learning from this activity to work with families in advocating for improvements in national child protection policy and local practices, while we continue to provide parents with the utmost support and training to help improve parenting capacity and enhance protection for their children.
This was a closed, confidential meeting with our current and recent service users.
As part of our Phoenix Project for Young Women and Girls at Risk of Exploitation, we organised a series of summer events for young people. These activities helped to provide children with positive activities during the holidays, boosted confidence, improved problem-solving skills and physical fitness whilst creating unforgettable memories and new friendships.
We had a fantastic time at our 2024 Staff and Trustees Retreat held in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 6-8 July 2024
Our Trustees and Staff converged on The Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland for our 2024 retreat.
We spent a fantastic three days from 6-8 July to analyse, review and strategiese about our work in the coming years, especially in light of the recent change in the Uk machinery of government.
The retreat provided a great opportunity for team-bonding, bringing together our staff in both our London and Manchester offices, some of whom were just meeting face to face for the first time!
This was a huge time commitment so many thanks to all our staff and trustees for attending and contributing to such a successful programme.
Event: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) For Black and Ethnic Families In The UK Child Protection System
On 16 May 2024, AFRUCA held an online event to explore the inequalities for Black and Ethnic children within the social care sector and what changes needed to be made.
Our panellist Pat Ndlalambi explored the experiences of immigrant children whose parents have no recourse to public funds and how this impacts on their innate rights to services. We also looked at the experiences of children in foster care linked to trauma. The question: “how do we prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of Black children in foster care” was discussed by panellist Tapiwa Julius. Alimatu Dimonekene explored how mental ill-health disproportionately affects Black communities with services unavailable or unable to meet their needs, leading to further disempowerment and marginalisation of communities.
Professor Claudia Bernard examined how racism as a cause of trauma should be seen and treated as a child safeguarding issue. Using the example of Child Q, she explored how the term “Equality, Diversity and Inclusion” is “cozy” and does not truly explain the experiences of Black children where they are see as “the risk” and not “at risk”. Millie Kerr spoke about how the plethora of research on child protection does not address the intersectionality of issues experienced by Black children and young people, rather there is much unhelpful stereotyping of Black children by services.
In relation to intersectionality, a key question about racism and homosexuality was posed by Reverend Jide Macaulay in regards to the provision of support for Black and ethnic families to make their homes safer for their LGBT children.
A number of recommendations were put forward and we are exploring how to include these as part of our service delivery and advocacy programmes at AFRUCA. We are thankful to our panellists and participants for a truly enlightening event.
This event was held to mark AFRUCA’s 23rd Anniversary
Parenting and Child Protection at Redeemed Church in Chippenham
Our Finance Officer Samson's birthday!
Parenting and Child Protection at Redeemed Church in Chippenham
Talking to Pupils of William Hulme Grammar School on Child Exploitation/County Lines
Our network BASNET Residential Capacity Building Programme 2024
Our Social Worker Lauretta's 10th anniversary at AFRUCA
Event: Protect Me, Too: A Consultative Meeting With Black Youth In London and Manchester
We held an online Consultative Meeting with young people across London and Manchester on 5 April 2024. They discussed challenges faced by young people like themselves and noted lack of understanding by decision-makers of vulnerabilities young people experience around cultural clashes at home, risks of criminal exploitation and going missing from home. They explored need for resources dedicated to spaces for young people, and how systems and structures like Stop and Search oppress young Black people and treat them like adults instead of children.
We are exploring opportunities to take further the ideas generated at the consultative meeting.
Child Protection training, Igbo Men of Birmingham
FGM Training for social workers, Leeds council
Four Square Church Birmingham. Child Protection training for Congregants
Four Square Church Birmingham. Child Protection training for Congregants
Christ Apostolic Church, Kingsmead, Middlesborough. Child Protection Training for Congregants
AFRUCA Children's Champions at a child protection community event
AFRUCA Consultative Meeting on Youth Violence and County Lines in Manchester
AFRUCA session with the pupils of Loretto College, Manchester
AFRUCA At Ahmadiya Muslim Women Conference in Manchester
AFRUCA Training at Old Trafford Community Academy
Event: How Can We Enhance Protection for Children in Black and Ethnic Faith Organisations Across the UK?
On 13 February 2024, we held a special consultative meeting to explore the role of faith organisations in the protection of children in Black and ethnic communities across the UK. Our interest in this subject was based on evidence from our case-work at AFRUCA, reported child abuse cases in the medi linked to faith organisations, known court prosecutions and first hand accounts of victims and survivors.
At the event, we explore key themes around safeguarding in faith organisations. A key idea that came from the event was the establishment of a Faith and Community Child Protection Network to help build capacity and support members’ activities around child protection across the country. We are now working to actualise this idea.
We are thankful to all participants for a truly enlightening and educative event.
2023 Highlights
Debbie Ariyo CEO of AFRUCA with the Mayors of Southwark and Haringey at the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK Annual Dinner
AFRUCA Team presenting on Adultification to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
AFRUCA Senior Social Worker with a visitor to AFRUCA stand at Seymour Road Academy Community Engagement sesion for parents
AFRUCA Team presenting to the Igbo Men of Birmingham
Panel of Lived Experience Expert at AFRUCA Black History Month event on Farmed Children and Barrel Children
AFRUCA CEO with the young people at Focus on Disability Home in Nigeria
AFRUCA Xmas Cake Sale at Universal Square
AFRUCA Champions at a child protection session, Redeemed church in Coventry
AFRUCA Champion at NASFAT Muslim Women's Group Dartford child protection session
AFRUCA school material for primary school children in Ososa, Nigeria
AFRUCA presented on Modern Slavery at Manchester Catherdal Thoman Clarkson Commemorative Day event
London staff end of year dinner on 7 December 2023.
Manchester staff end of year dinner on 12 December 2023
Black History Month October 2023
Farmed Children, Barrel Children: Exploring Historic Black UK Child Rearing Practices
To celebrate Black History Month 2023, AFRUCA Safeguarding Children held an event on 6 October 2023 to explore the historical experiences of "Farmed Children” and "Barrel" Children” in the UK and learnings to improve protection and safeguarding of children in today's Black communities. We had a fantastic panel of experts with lived experience - Evadney Campbell MBE, Ibironke John and Gamal Turawa. The event focused on the experiences of many children born in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and possibly the 1990s to Caribbean and West African parents in Britain who experienced different forms of upbringing.
Panellists shared their experiences of separation from birth parents as a result of different child rearing practices. We looked at the experiences of West African children who would be given to White foster carers far away from their families to enable their parents study and work while someone else looked after the children (Farmed children). We also discussed how Caribbean children would be left back home in the West Indies with relatives to enable their parents travel to the UK to work (Barrel children) before re-joining their parents in the UK.
We examined how these practices led to different types of emotional trauma in the children due to long term separation from birth parents, and other loved carers. We explore the long term impact on today’s adults, their relationships with siblings born in the UK who did not experience similar separation. We looked at how these childhood experiences affect their own child rearing practices but also open up the path towards healing and recovery.
We are thankful to our panellists and participants for a truly enlightening and educative event.
Funded by the UK Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre, BASNET at AFRUCA, in partnership with the St Mary’s University Bakhita Centre, the Sheffield University and the Nottingham University Rights Lab was delighted to launch our new research report exploring Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Publicly funded Modern Slavery Research on 17 July 2023
Our CEO Debbie Ariyo OBE delivered a Keynote Presentation at the launch of the African Research Interest Group at Anglia Ruskin University.
Our Social Work Team delivered a two day Induction Training Programme for Newly Arrived Social Workers from Zimbabwe and South African working for Manchester City Council
Our CEO Debbie Ariyo attended the INRICH Network Conference in Paris earlier in June to present learning from our work on Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation in Black communities in the UK.
AFRUCA CEO Debbie Ariyo OBE presenting a paper at the Global Sustainability Network Conference "Ending Modern Slavery: Harnessing Scalable Solutions".
County Lines Service Manager Brian Talabi delivers a parenting session as part of the County Lines Family Support Service
Ekanem, Community Engagement Lead delivered a safeguarding training to a group of churches in Birmingham.
Tech Volunteers, Hanshi, Bolaji and Manos and Course Leader Brian from the AFRUCA Young Coders Club.
AFRUCA Windrush Day event 2023
AFRUCA Conference on Adultification of the Girl-Child 2023
On 27th April 2023 AFRUCA held a conference focusing on the Adultification of the Girl - Child in Manchester, in partnership with Manchester City Council.
This was a thought - provoking event, which aimed to open conversations among practitioners to develop awareness, knowledge and reflection on this issue.
We have received very good feedback about the conference from many participants.
Adultification is such an important issue, so we are pleased this conference has been well received.
Read the conference report here.
Watch a part of the Young People’s Panel discussion here
Visit the Conference Photo Gallery here
A Massive Congratulations to Our First Cohort of AFRUCA Young Coders For Completing The Course!
The first cohort which started in January 2023 had their final session on Saturday 18th March.
The project has been a success and we thank our tech volunteers for all their hard work and support with the project
This project is part of the County Lines Child Trafficking Prevention Service. Children aged between 12 - 18 can take part in our free coding lessons every Saturday at our Manchester Office.
We also provide hot meals for participants. Please note, this programme is specifically aimed at young people from low income families.
The Launch of ‘The Phoenix Project’
On the 8th March in honour of International Women’s Day we launched ‘The Phoenix Project’
The Phoenix Project supports Young Women and Girls at risk of Exploitation in Manchester.
We will provide one to one support, which includes mentoring and emotional wellbeing support that focuses on building self - esteem, promoting healthy relationships and understanding indicators of coercive control and grooming.
The project will also include group activities for young people to get involved in.
Find out more here.
2022 Highlights
AFRUCA Hackney Conversations: Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse
Our latest Hackney Conversations on child sexual abuse was a success. We were delighted the Deputy Mayor of Hackney, Councillor Antoinette Bramley and Councillor Midnight Ross were able to join the session. The Deputy Mayor spoke about ongoing work in Hackney to protect children from sexual abuse. We were also delighted to have children’s author Victoria Adepoju present her book, ‘No More Secrets Simi’.
The BASNET Residential Capacity Building Programme For BAME Anti-Trafficking Innovators Was a Success!
We are really delighted about the successful outcome of our inaugural Residential Capacity Building Programme facilitated by BASNET (BME Anti - Slavery Network) which was held at our Manchester Offices.
We are thankful to our funders The Churchill Fellowship, all participants, speakers and trainers.
We Celebrated James Titi - Lartey, our Head of Finance and Administration’s 10th Year at AFRUCA!
November 2022 marked our Head of Finance and Administration, James Titi - Lartey’s 10th Year at AFRUCA. We are delighted to have celebrated this important anniversary. We thank James for all his hard work and dedication to AFRUCA and look forward to many more years of working together.
AFRUCA Visited Nigeria
Session on Child Trafficking with Children
Our CEO Debbie Ariyo visited Makoko, Lagos Nigeria to talk to children in the community about protecting themselves from child trafficking. We thank CEE - HOPE Children’s Charity Nigeria for organising this important event.
Session on Child Protection with Potential Migrants
Due to our concerns about the number of newly arrived Nigerian families referred to our child protection service at AFRUCA, because of culturally based child abuse, Debbie held an event in Lagos with CEE- HOPE. The event focused on UK Child Protection issues with potential student migrants and others in attendance. It is crucial that newly arrived people are aware of the differences in child rearing and child protection rules so they do not fall foul of the laws.
You can watch the recording of the event on CEE- HOPE’s Facebook page.
We Celebrated Black History Month 2022!
To mark Black History Month throughout October we put the spotlight on 10 influential people in the UK that have contributed to positive changes and growth in the Social Work and Child Protection Sector.
It’s not too late to find and follow these posts. Visit our Instagram @afruca where you’ll find them all!
Media Launch of 'Smuggled' by Angela Karanja
The booked ‘Smuggled’ by Angela Karanja has shown how powerful is the role of young people in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. We were delighted to have hosted the launch of this important book on 23rd September at our London office in Hackney.
If you weren’t able to attend, it’s not too late to watch the event which was streamed live. Watch now by visiting our Facebook page.
Third Private Screening of AFRUCA’s 20th Anniversary documentary
Aug 15, 2022
AFRUCA’s 20th Anniversary documentary video’s third private screening reception was held at the AFRUCA head office in Hackney on Thursday 11th August 2022
The documentary reflected AFRUCA’s history, journey, challenges, success stories and future plans. The 32-minute high-definition documentary featured politicians, civil servants, practitioners and AFRUCA’s service users.
The evening’s guest of honour, Lola Gani-Yusuf, a previous employee of AFRUCA, said that the documentary showcased the enormous impact AFRUCA has been making in the BME community in the UK. She added that she feels proud to see AFRUCA’s huge progress and to have worked for the organisation.
During the Q&A session, attendees asked questions to AFRUCA’s CEO, Debbie Ariyo OBE, about AFRUCA’s work and ambitions, and pledged their full support to the charity.
Watch the full documentary click here.
African Parent-Students and The Challenges of Parenting In The UK
Many foreign parent-students come to the UK for private education or sent by their governments or on scholarship programmes to study at universities across the country. Most of these students arrive in the UK without provision of adequate information that could help them to familiarise themselves with the culture and norms as well as to understand the UK’s law on child protection and well-being.
AFRUCA, as the UK’s leading charity in safeguarding Black and ethnic children and supporting families, has been at the forefront of providing seminars, trainings and workshops to parents and carers to educate them on raising their children in line with the UK’s law.
As part of this, on 9th July 2022 Debbie Ariyo OBE, CEO of AFRUCA, gave a lecture to almost 80 parent-students who are studying at the University of Lincoln. This ‘Parenting in The UK’ seminar was organised by the Health Gospel CIC.
AFRUCA was delighted to participate in the special event to help parent-students integrate into mainstream society and enhance protection for their children.
Jul 13, 2022
AFRUCA has produced a 32-minute documentary to help capture its work safeguarding children in the UK over the 20 years of its existence.
Two private screenings with specially invited guests were held in its Head Office in Hackney on 15 June and 12 July 2022 . The documentary reflects AFRUCA’s history, journey, challenges, success stories and future plans. The documentary features service users, former and present staff, practitioners, policymakers and politicians all of whom have been involved and are familiar with AFRUCA’s work over many years.
Prominent among attendees at both events were Professor Kurt Barling, former BBC London Special Correspondent; Councillor Michael Situ, Deputy Mayor, London Borough of Southwark, Cllr Sade Etti, Mayoral Advisor, London Borough of Hackney, Councillor Susan Fajana Thomas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, London Borough of Hackney and Sanchia Alachia, former Mayor, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
Following the film screenings, attendees used the Q&A session to discuss with AFRUCA’s Founder, Debbie Ariyo OBE, about AFRUCA’S work and aspirations, and to pledge their full support for the charity.
Watch the full documentary click here
