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The Keep Me Safe project has developed and implemented a game infused e-learning tool, with accompanying how to guide, that promotes health and early access to services for young people on the move in Europe. The project was led by Anglia Ruskin University (UK), with partner organisations: European University Cyprus, Walsall Council (UK) and City Academy (Greece). The team comprises both safeguarding practitioners and researchers of child protection systems.Europe is about free movement of people, and young people are on the move for education, volunteering and employment. This project was motivated by a gap identified in young people's inter-cultural knowledge of early routes to help for neglect and abuse in their host countries. There is no uniformed child protection system in place within the EU to keep children and young people safe from harm. Although a key priority of the EU is focused on mobility, child protection systems are not identical, creating a stumbling block for young people seeking access to services with neglect and abuse. Readily available early help for children and families can stop problems escalating and prevent maltreatment before it occurs, but most children in need cannot easily access services. The Keep Me Safe project addressed this issue by enabling EU young people to discuss abuse and neglect and gain awareness of the support available to them, as well as contribute to the development of the e-learning tool and how to guide. The e-learning tool can be found at http://kmse.open-lab.com/ and is accessible from browsers and as a download to Android, Windows and iOS devices. Constructed as an interactive game, the tool allows young people from across Europe to learn more about the different child protection systems across the EU to help find early routes for help if they are experiencing a problem with neglect and abuse. Safeguarding professionals have also benefited from the e-learning tool as a guide to young people's emotional journey of recognition, telling and help seeking. The tool was co-produced by young people with knowledge or experience of neglect and abuse to help keep young people safe as they cross Europe.The e-learning tool is supported by a how to guide, which provides tips for adults on how best to introduce and support vulnerable groups of young people using the game, alongside a youth section for the young people using the tool. The Guide forms an integral part of the gaming experience. The impact of the Keep Me Safe e-learning tool is evidenced by its usage and acclaim in the safeguarding and youth research communities: the Abused no More (AnM) project, which aims to allow better integration of marginalised youth, was an early adopter of the e-learning tool, and the Keep Me Safe project itself was shortlisted for the Research of the Year Award at the 5th Annual IARS Research and Youth Leadership Awards 2016 in London. The longer-term sustainability of Keep Me Safe will be ensured through our bespoke digital dissemination package, which has been endorsed by local governments and children’s charities. The team is working to ensure that the e-learning tool is used as a resource for training social workers, teachers, border police and sexual exploitation teams and other agents who come into contact with vulnerable groups of young people on the move across Europe as part of their work.
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