Children aged eight to twelve in Ballymena, County Antrim, have taken part in a programme about child exploitation by criminal gangs. The sessions occurred at the Ballykeel Youth Resource Centre.

Chloe Higginson from Invisible Traffick delivered the six-week programme. She noted that organised crime gangs target vulnerable children. Locally, this includes forcing children to steal, move drugs, or join public disorder such as the rioting in Ballymena last summer.

Following arrests during that disorder, police referred 33 young people to social services.

Nine-year-old Jax attended the programme. He learned to alert an adult if someone online suggests meeting after a game and it feels wrong.

Ten-year-old Alex, also at the centre, learned signs of human trafficking and to tell a trusted adult.

Ten-year-old Ella stated that exploitation involves people being tricked, trapped, and forced into unwanted actions.

Amie Mott, Education Authority Youth Worker at the centre, said this was the second time they ran the programme. She checks with participants on their learning to share in the centre and community. The centre provides a safe space where children learn to speak up.

Invisible Traffick is reaching 600 young people in 15 schools and youth settings this year. The organisation receives funding from Comic Relief's Red Nose Day.