Africans Unite Against Child Abuse

AFRUCA's Work in the UK

Review of Work with Black African Families in Southwark

Project Location: London Borough of Southwark
Project Contact: Debbie Ariyo, Chief Executive AFRUCA
Project Commissioned by: London Borough of Southwark, Children’s Services

Project Information:

There is growing concern about the disproportionate numbers of black African children who are being referred into the child protection and care systems and Southwark has established a project which is aiming to look at some of the reasons for this and to reach a better understanding of the needs of these communities; which account for more than a quarter of the borough’s 0 – 19 population.

The Southwark Safeguarding Children Board and Children’s Services Department are working in partnership with AFRUCA (Africans Unite Against Child Abuse), a voluntary sector organisation which champions African children’s rights and campaigns against child abuse, trafficking and other exploitation.

The project has the following aims;

• To identify possible reasons for over-representation of African families  in the safeguarding system
• To develop a stronger working  knowledge of  these communities  to improve assessments and interventions,
• To build the capacity of African community groups  and faith organisations to deliver child protection training for their staff, volunteers and members
• To pilot training and positive parenting programmes for African parents.