Worcester News Column - WMRSASC CEO, Jocelyn Anderson
Recent headlines have once again forced uncomfortable conversations into the public domain. Half-hourly news bulletins about Epstein and grooming gangs result in many school-run parents reaching for the volume button as difficult topics fill the car. The desire to escape the relentless gloom is understandable; when powerful people fail to act, trust in institutions is shaken and we can be left feeling vulnerable. But the responsibility to protect children does not sit only at the top. It sits with all of us.
While national stories dominate the news, the reality is that most sexual harm happens much closer to home. It happens in peer groups, in schools, in online spaces, and often between children and young people who are still learning about boundaries, relationships and respect.
Data increasingly shows that child-on-child sexual harm is a significant and growing concern. For many parents and professionals, this can feel overwhelming. The instinct is often to look for solutions in policy reform, legal consequences, or institutional change. Those are important. But they are not the only answer.
Change doesn’t start in courtrooms or royal households.
It starts in living rooms, classrooms, and conversations in cars.
At West Mercia Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre, we see every day how early, informed conversations can make a difference. Our early intervention work equips parents, carers and professionals with the confidence and knowledge to talk about healthy relationships, consent, online safety, and body autonomy in age-appropriate ways.
Prevention is not about panic – it’s about confidence and knowledge.
It is about helping adults recognise the signs of harmful sexual behaviour early. It is about supporting children who may have been harmed, and also supporting children who may be displaying concerning behaviours, so patterns do not escalate. It is about creating environments where young people understand respect, empathy, healthy relationships, and accountability.
When parents feel equipped to start conversations rather than avoid them, children are safer. When teachers feel confident responding to disclosures, harm is less likely to be minimised or misunderstood. When communities recognise that sexual harm can occur between children, we move away from denial and towards prevention.
National scandals can make us feel powerless. But safeguarding is not only the responsibility of governments or high-profile institutions. It is a shared responsibility – one that belongs in our homes, our schools, and our communities.
If we want to rebuild trust and protect the next generation, we must start early, speak openly and act collectively.
The most meaningful change is often the quietest. It happens in conversations around kitchen tables, in classroom discussions, and in the steady, informed guidance of adults who are prepared.
This is where change starts – with awareness, and then action. This is where prevention begins, behaviours alter, and abuse ends. This is our mission. Be part of the change – start the conversation.