Flourish Award Winners

We were delighted to attend this year's Flourish Awards, which recognise individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the lives of children and young people in Norfolk.

The films we commissioned from the Media Learning Company at City College, as part of our upcoming partnership exploitation campaign, won the Resilience Category.

With a focus on the younger demographic of the overall campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the signs of exploitation, the students produced four films to illustrate the push and pull factors of exploitation, particularly around drugs and gangs. The students carried out extensive research including with partnership agencies such as police, focus groups with secondary school aged young people and parents of children involved in gangs and serious violence.

Gavin Thompson, Director of Policy, Commissioning and Communications at the OPCCN said: "We are so proud of the students. The films they produced expertly demonstrate the subtle and often lengthy process of an exploitative relationship and how difficult it can be to recognise when you or others are being exploited. The students understood and conveyed that the exploiters are always the ones at fault and it is never the fault of the person being exploited; a key message for young people seeking advice or support to understand.

The passion, dedication, professionalism and skillset that the students demonstrated impressed the partnership board from the beginning. It was clear that the students felt that they were part of making a difference to young people in our county and that these products will be used to keep them safe from harm. The films they created for us will have a lasting legacy for young people in Norfolk."

We were also honoured to sponsor and present the Safe & Secure award to Coram Voice, an Independent Visitor Service that provides support for some of Norfolk's care experienced children and young people.