The Children’s Society has received a prestigious award for producing a hard-hitting film aimed at training three quarters of a million staff across the NHS to recognise the signs of child sexual abuse or exploitation.

The charity film entitled ‘See. Hear. Stop the Abuse’ won Best Commissioned Film at the Haelo Film Festival Awards, which recognise the best in public sector films. The film is part of a powerful campaign called Seen and Heard to help health professionals spot the signs of child abuse and know how to make children feel able to speak about what is happening to them.

One in 20 children in the UK has been sexually abused. Many do not feel able to report their abuse and too often it goes unnoticed or the signs are misunderstood. The Government has declared child sexual abuse one of the greatest threats facing the UK today.

The Department of Health commissioned The Children’s Society to make the video and e-learning course based on the powerful story of a young boy called Tyler, which launched in July this year.

The charity appointed White Boat TV to produce the film following Tyler who is ready to disclose the seven years of abuse he has suffered from a close family member. We see Tyler coming into contact with a number of potential people who could help him but time and again they fail to spot the signs. It is the actions of a kind and patient radiographer who eventually gives Tyler the time and opportunity to tell his story. The film and hour-long learning programme was developed with the help of over 100 young people, some of whom are victims of sexual abuse.