With the on-going cost of living crisis, charities are concerned families won’t be able to afford the usual summer activities and children will look to online entertainment, resulting in exploitation.
Local charity, The Benjamin Foundation has admitted it is “very aware” of the worries, as it prepares to offer support to local families.
Barnardo’s chief executive Lynn Perry said: “During the pandemic, we saw a rise in new forms of exploitation – with children increasingly groomed, recruited and exploited over social media, chat rooms and on gaming platforms.”