“Seeing exploitation in my community and not knowing what to do…”

I reached out for help because something in my local community did not feel right. There were incidents happening around college and where I lived that felt unsafe, especially involving young people. I knew of an adult male in the community who was grooming exploiting young women and girls. He was known for violent criminal behaviour, and there had been attempts to pressure young people into committing crimes. It felt serious and dangerous, but it did not seem like these concerns were being acknowledged.  Knowing this left me feeling anxious and unsure what to do. Reporting it felt important, but it was also frightening. There was fear about potential consequences if my concerns were traced back to me, given what this person was capable of. 

How I was helped

Reaching out gave me a safe and non-judgemental space to talk through what I had seen and how it was affecting me. I was supported to understand my options and guided through how to report concerns anonymously. Support focused not only on reporting but also on staying safe while doing so.  

Over following months, I stayed in contact while continuing to raise concerns. Ongoing emotional support helped me manage the fear and stress that came with speaking up. Being listened to and supported helped me feel less alone. It made it possible to take steps to protect myself while continuing to do what felt right.