What are the risks outside the home

The risks and harms experienced by children do not always happen in their homes and with families. They can occur in other places children spend time:

  • schools or colleges
  • within their communities (for example parks and town centres)
  • online

These harms can be caused by people outside of the family including friends and acquaintances, strangers and people they meet online.

It can be difficult for you to spot risks outside of the home and even more difficult for you to protect your children in these situations. It can be especially tricky as children get older, as they become more independent and spend more time outside of their homes.

Risks outside the home can include:

  • going missing
  • being groomed
  • being taken advantage of sexually or criminally (also known as exploitation)
  • being harmed by their peers (for example violence)
  • modern slavery (for example forced labour) and trafficking
  • being drawn into extremist content or terrorism

Children can experience more than one of these harms at any given time and some of these risks are known to overlap. 

Many children do not recognise that they are being harmed or are at risk. It's important to remember that a child cannot consent to their own abuse or exploitation. They may have been exposed to risks outside the home even if they deny this or if their actions appear consensual.