The Sandwell County Lines Intensification Week Partnership is co-ordinated by Horizons Exploitation & Missing Team from Sandwell Children’s Trust and is supported by various other partners including Sandwell Youth Service and Sandwell Police, who were at the Awards ceremony (pictured).

CLIW Partnership has safeguarded, supported, intervened and mobilised a professional and community response to criminal exploitation through training and awareness raising sessions delivered to hundreds of young people as well as the disruption of serious crime involving gangs.

Over eight successful intensification weeks during the past two-and-a-half years, the partnership has delivered long-and short-term outcomes including targeted outreach visits to potential “cuckoo” addresses and detached youth work sessions delivered to support young people at risk of involvement in county lines gangs.

Without receiving any extra funding to plan, support or carry out activities to target the impact of county lines and exploitation on young people, the partnership is reliant on services freeing up resources and targeting extra activities during the week.

The partnership is delivering a way of working which not only improves the lives of young people at risk of exploitation, but improves communities and structures within services.  It has been recognised for its work in the West Midlands and nationally.

Judge John Drew described the project as “a valuable way to use partnership working and partnership enthusiasm and consequential momentum to tackle a major social problem”.