Selfless children's charity colleagues recognised for their work preventing child sexual abuse

Two Plymouth NSPCC workers have been recognised by Devon and Cornwall Police for their work in the city, helping children and young people.

Corinne Picton and Shelley Shaw received awards for ‘selflessness’ at the Plymouth Police Commander’s Autumn Awards ceremony at the Guildhall on Tuesday 15 October.

Children’s Service Practitioner Corinne was recognised for her role in partnership work involving the NSPCC and Barnardo’s and their co-facilitated EMPOWER group. The group has brought together young people across the city to explore healthy relationships education, developing sessions that have already been delivered to local schools.

Corinne was also involved in the co-creation and delivery of National Citizen Service sessions over the summer with Devon and Cornwall Police, helping to support a group of young people to design a series of posters focusing on child sexual exploitation and grooming, which signpost their peers to where they can access support.

“I was incredibly surprised to be nominated for this award,” said Corinne, who lives in Yealmpton.

“The work I undertook with the EMPOWER group and the National Citizen Service was a real pleasure, made so incredibly rewarding by a fantastic and inspiring group of young people who we worked alongside.”

As Development and Impact Manager for the NSPCC’s Together for Childhood programme of work in the city, Shelley was commended for her partnership work to progress Plymouth in becoming a trauma informed city.

This would see organisations and professionals place more focus and understanding about how experiences in people’s lives impact on their behaviours, and professionals are already exploring how they can work differently and adapt services with this in mind.

This work includes the need to focus more effort on preventing abuse and adversities happening.

Shelley, who lives in Milehouse, said: “I have really enjoyed being a founding member of the trauma informed network and I am delighted to have received this award for working in an area I feel passionate about.

“I believe as professionals we have a real opportunity in this city to lead the way in taking a trauma informed approach, making the services we offer young people and families as safe, kind, and empowering as possible.”

Together for Childhood sees NSPCC partner with organisations across the city on this preventative work, including Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Safeguarding Children Board, Devon & Cornwall Police, Livewell South West, Barnardo’s, community groups, children and families, the voluntary sector and schools.

Oliver Mackie, Strategic Service Centre Manager for the NSPCC in Plymouth said: “I am incredibly proud that Corinne and Shelley have been recognised for their work helping to prevent child sexual abuse in Plymouth.

“They work tirelessly on a challenging and often complex issue but always prioritise making the voice of the child and young person or community as central to everything the Together for Childhood partnership develops.

“This goes beyond professional responsibility to personal investment in Plymouth and making childhood safe in the city.”