Seeing the Child Beyond the Harm - Exploring the shared drivers violence, exploitation and abuse

Children trapped in cycles of violence, exploitation and peer-to-peer harm are too often seen for what they do - not what has happened to them.

Safer London’s Seeing the Child Beyond the Harm Conference brings together professionals across sectors, alongside young people, to explore the underlying factors that shape children’s experiences of harm - and how we shift from behaviour-led responses to child-first, safeguarding-led approaches that recognise past trauma, abuse and unmet need.

About the event

Thursday 8 October 2026 | 10am to 4pm
The Tab Centre, Shoreditch, 3 Godfrey Pl, London E2 7NT
Free to attend!
Register here

Too often, responses to young people are shaped by the behaviour they present, rather than an understanding of the harm they’ve experienced.

This event brings together learning and insights from across different contexts of harm - including criminal exploitation, harmful sexual behaviour, extremist or misogynistic ideologies and peer‑on‑peer harm - to explore the common drivers behind these experiences.

By focusing on what sits beneath the behaviour, it will examine how these shared factors shape young people’s lives and can result him them harming others - and how failing to recognise them can lead to young people being misunderstood, adultified or criminalised.

The day will explore what it takes to respond in ways that protect rather than punish, and how we shift towards child‑first, safeguarding‑led approaches in both practice and systems.

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What to expect

Panel discussions exploring the themes and topics
Voices of young people sharing real insight
Workshops focused on practice
Opportunities to connect, reflect and collaborate
A free lunch will be provided

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Who should attend

This event is for professionals across practice, commissioning and leadership roles who work with or shape responses to children and young people affected by harm.

Youth workers and frontline practitioners
Social care and safeguarding professionals
Education and school staff
Community and voluntary sector organisations
Policymakers and system leaders