About
Researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking
The International Centre at the University of Bedfordshire works to increase understanding of, and improve responses to, child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking.
The International Centre at the University of Bedfordshire is committed to increasing understanding of, and improving responses to, child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking in local, national and international contexts.
Staff work collaboratively across applied research, evaluation, consultancy and training, grounding each strand of work in academic rigour and partnership-based approaches to applied social research. Meaningful and ethical engagement of children and young people runs through the Centre’s work, and the Young Researchers’ Advisory Panel (YRAP), established in 2016, gives young researchers a platform to shape the direction of research.
Academic rigour
Research is developed to a high standard of academic quality, with findings shared openly through publications, reports and blog articles on this site.
Partnership-based approaches
The Centre works with universities and external organisations in local, national and international contexts, building networks that strengthen safeguarding responses.
Engagement of children and young people
Children and young people are engaged meaningfully and ethically, including through the Young Researchers’ Advisory Panel and participatory projects such as ‘Our Voices’.
Work of the Centre
- Applied social research into child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking.
- Evaluation and consultancy for organisations working in child safeguarding.
- Training for professionals and partners in the field.
- Collaborative and partnership-based projects with universities and community organisations.
- Meaningful and ethical engagement of children and young people in research.