My name is Wendy Shepherd I work as a Children's Service Manager for Barnardos SECOS project which seeks to prevent, exit and recover young people from sexual exploitation through prostitution. I also chair the Crime Reduction Partnership on issues of Prostitution and exploitation within Middlesbrough Safer Partnership.

I am embarking on a Global trip  in Oct 04 for approximately 3 month's to research and study the exploitation of children and young people through trafficking, prostitution and internet abuse in a number of countries around the World and to explore partnership working in particular with European and Eastern European partners in Moldova, Amsterdam and Hungary.

I will be reporting my experiences in the "journal" area of this site to keep interested parties up to date with my experiences and  findings. You will also be able to send me  your comments.

In my spare time I enjoy the countryside, walking and  gardening