The Missing Black Child Conference - Exploring Solutions

Press Release – Immediate Release - 29th May 2024

MAG Hosts Critical Conference Addressing the Rising Number of Missing Black Children in London

“My heart aches every moment my son is missing. It's been 5 agonising weeks since my 14-year-old boy disappeared, and the pain is indescribable. Every day feels like an eternity, filled with worry and fear. I pray for his safe return and for the strength to keep searching. Our family is incomplete without him, and the uncertainty is tearing us apart.”

Jane - Mother of a missing 14 year old boy

London, UK – October 29th, 2024 (Half Term) – MAG (Manhood Academy Global Registered Charity - 1191613) and its allies are set to host a vital conference focusing on the growing issue of missing children in London.

Date: 29th October 2024

Time: 1pm - 4pm

Location: Brent Civic Centre, WEMBLEY, HA9 0FJ

This is a whole family event as Child Protection is everyone’s responsibility. This conference aims to bring together experts, parents, trusted adults, leading charities, social workers, and community leaders to address these pressing challenges and develop effective strategies to combat this crisis.

Families and carers in London are facing significant challenges as the number of children going missing each year continues to rise. A recent report by the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee highlighted that although Black children are a minority, a disproportionately high number of young Black boys and girls are reported missing.

In the 2022-23 period, 9,370 children were reported missing in London, resulting in 29,455 separate missing incidents recorded by the Metropolitan Police. However, the charity Missing People suggests the actual number of missing children may be much higher, as up to two-thirds of missing incidents are believed to go unreported.

For additional reading and background, please check our newspaper article: [Black mothers fear family breakdowns linked to children going missing - https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/features-news/2024/05/06/black-mothers-fear-family-breakdowns-linked-to-children-going-missing .

MAG feels that the issue of missing children is not being adequately addressed. Families are ill-prepared, and there are insufficient tools and resources to assist families during this turbulent time. This conference aims to bridge that gap by fostering dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders.

Key Conference Highlights

• Panel Discussions - Engage with experts and share insights on addressing the missing children crisis

• Toolkit Unveiling - Introduction of a comprehensive toolkit to help families experiencing the trauma of having a missing child, providing practical steps and emotional support

• Information Stalls - Access resources and information from various organisations dedicated to supporting affected families.

Collaborate with Us

We invite organisations and individuals passionate about addressing the issue of missing children to collaborate with us. Your insights and support can make a significant difference.

Confirmed Speakers

Jahnine Davis
Jahnine was appointed to Child Safeguarding Review Panel November 2021 for a period of 4 years. Jahnine Davis is the UK’s foremost researcher and thought leader in adultification bias in child protection and safeguarding. A specialist in the safeguarding of Black children, Jahnine’s PhD research explores safeguarding responses to Black children when harm is outside of the home. Jahnine is a care-experienced professional who started her career in children’s rights and participation, has over 20 years practice experience working in both charity and statutory safeguarding arenas. Jahnine is the founder and Director of Listen Up, an organisation established to amplify the experiences of lesser heard children in child protection research, policy, and practice

Chris Murray

Chris Murray is CEO of the Young Brent Foundation. The Foundation aims to create an evidence based, needs led community partnership model that unites a diverse voluntary youth sector, and creates a strong united voice, equipping members with the training, resources and financial support they need to increase overall capacity and develop a more sustainable future to benefit young
people. Chris is an Alumni of the Nationally recognised ‘Black, Asian Leadership Initiative’ (BALI) and on the Board of the KPMG Foundation, Chair of CVS Brent and had a 35year career in Senior roles across 7 Local Authorities.

Chris has developed Cultural Competency Programme designs with Impetus, Met Police, LB Hackney and L B Brent to improve outcomes for diverse communities and act as a convenor for the Black Community to improve understanding of systemic inequalities and the EDI assessment tool to reform system change to understand and improve practice.

Josie Allan

Josie is the Head of Policy and Partnerships for Missing People and has led their work to influence improvements in the response for missing children, adults, and their families since 2016. She has worked with partners across the sector to understand the experiences of marginalised missing people, and to challenge discrimination and disparities in the response for missing Black people.

Nana Yabbey-Hagan

Nana Yabbey-Hagan is a Qualified Social Worker for Children and Families of 10 years. Nana is currently a Team Manager for a Looked After Children’s Team, previously a Team Manager for a frontline Children Protection Team, a Practice Educator for Bachelor’s, Master’s, Step Up Students/ASYE assessor for Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW), University Lecturer & Mentor for Social Workers and Students.

As a University Lecturer, Nana lectures at London Metropolitan University, Brunel University & Anglia Ruskin. He provides mentoring to Social Workers and Students Nana has founded the Street Social Work Practice Model and is current Co-Host of the Social Worker and The Mentor Podcast, which is on Youtube, Tiktok, Instagram, Spotify, Twitter and has hosted live podcast events. Further, Nana runs workshops for professionals across Social Care as well as community organisations as part of their CPD training.

Nana has founded the Street Social Work Practice Model and is current Co-Host of the Social Worker and The Mentor Podcast, which is on Youtube, Tiktok, Instagram, Spotify, Twitter and has hosted live podcast events with his co-host at London South Bank University and London Metropolitan University. Nana has also been completing work with the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and Social Workers Union (SWU) Campaign for change in Social Work and is the BASW Journalism Awards Winner for his co-hosted Social Worker and The Mentor Podcast in June 2024, nominated for twice for the BASW amazing Social Workers in March 2024 and is a finalist for the MBCC awards professional of the year award 2024.

Nana attended the House of Commons (Parliament) on the 5th December 2023 where he represented the voice for Social Workers along with members of Barnet Unison. Nana continues to be active within the political arena for Social Workers. Nana as of September 2024 is the UK National Executive for the Social Workers Union

Ann Marie Christian

Ann Marie Christian - Ann Marie is safeguarding practitioner and has been a qualified social worker since 1996. She has worked for various local authorities on the front line, in management, Local Safeguarding Children Board Trainer, LADO, Safeguarding advisor to schools, school improvement advisor, Designated Safeguarding Lead trainer and Designated Safeguarding Lead coordinator. She held half termly meetings with the DSL’s and shared updates, local themes and support at these meetings.

She is well known amongst her peers and is very passionate about keeping children safe and sharing her knowledge about child abuse and violence against women. Ann Marie has specialised in safeguarding from 1992 and specialised within education and childcare settings since being a school- based social worker in 1999. She went on to manage social workers in schools for a Local Authority.

In 2003 she managed a Child Protection Team for a Local Authority and supported 75 local schools with child protection advice, training and consultancy. In 2010, she became an independent social worker and provides associate consultancy and training to various organisations including NSPCC, Local Authorities, , ISI Consultancy, Early Years Teams, Youth Justice Teams, Boarding School Association, The Key for Leaders, Optimus Education, Council of International Schools, AEGIS, IAPS, Insurancecompanies, Charities, Faith organisations, Premier League, Multi Academy Trusts and more. She writes  articles and contributes regularly to Head Teachers Update, SEN Magazine and Nursery World. Ann Marie frequently delivers workshops and keynotes at National & International conferences. She raisesthe awareness of child abuse and promotes child protection internationally and over the last few years
delivers training and keynotes in Dubai, Singapore, Jamaica, Japan and Armenia.

She was’ Highly Commended’ and received an award at the Win Trade Awards 2019 for ‘Woman in the Public Sector’ and nominated in 2018 & 2019 in the NSPCC Child Protection Trainer of the Year.

We invite organisations and individuals passionate about addressing the issue of missing children to collaborate with us. Your insights and support

For more information, please contact us at info@manhoodacademy.co.uk

1 Ticket admits 2 people. ALL YOUNG PEOPLE 16 and UNDER GO FREE

PLEASE SHARE | PLEASE SHARE | PLEASE SHARE | PLEASE SHARE | PLEASE SHARE