Jess Phillips MP visits UCLH’s Lighthouse for children who have been sexually abused

The Lighthouse welcomed Jess Phillips MP, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls, to learn more about its work supporting children and young people who have been sexually abused.

The Lighthouse, which is led by UCLH, is England’s only Child House based on the international Barnahus model. The service offers child-focussed health and therapeutic services, law enforcement, criminal justice, case management and specialist advice and advocacy under one roof for victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation in north central London.

Jess toured the Lighthouse following the child’s journey around this unique service, hearing from the team about their work offering access to justice, therapeutic services and health assessments. She also met with some of the Lighthouse’s partners and commissioners – including the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, NSPCC, NHS England and North Central London ICB, who all support the service in different ways.

Jess’s responsibilities as a Minister include safeguarding and child sexual abuse and exploitation. Before she was elected in 2015 as an MP for Birmingham Yardley, Jess worked for Women’s Aid in the West Midlands developing services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking and exploitation. She was elected to Birmingham City Council in 2012 and was appointed Birmingham’s first ever Victims’ Champion in the same year. In Parliament, Jess has continued to promote women’s rights and to encourage the most vulnerable in society to participate in politics and to find their voice.

Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls, said, “Child sexual abuse and exploitation are vile crimes that inflict long-lasting trauma on survivors. It was inspiring to see firsthand the holistic service the Lighthouse offers. Children and their families come here at the most vulnerable time in their lives and it is incredibly important that they are able to access health, therapy and criminal justice under one roof. I commend Lighthouse staff for their compassionate, survivor-focused approach.”

Dr Tim Hodgson, medical director for specialist hospitals, said, “We were so pleased to be able to share the Lighthouse service with Jess Phillips, who has a long-standing passion and interest in tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation. She was incredibly interested, and clearly impressed, with the unique service that the Lighthouse offers and we look forward to continuing to work with her and the Home Office to share our expertise and learning to benefit many more children in other areas across the country.”