Dr Camille Warrington

Associate Professor, Safer Young Lives Research Centre

Camille Warrington I specialise in qualitative and mixed methods research focused on children and young people’s experiences of justice and welfare following experiences of violence and abuse in the UK and internationally. I have a particular interest in understanding the interdependency between children’s protection and participation and in children’s experiences as victims and witnesses in justice settings.

My methodological interests focus on participatory and creative approaches – particularly in relation to violence and abuse and building capacity for ethical and anti-oppressive research practices in this field. I bring 25 years’ experience working directly with children and young people in applied research and social care settings.

My doctorate, ‘Helping me find my own way’ Sexually exploited young people’s involvement in decision-making about their care was completed in June 2013.

Research Interests

Children’s rights and participation – particularly in contexts of violence and abuse
Child sexual abuse
Criminal justice responses to children affected by violence and abuse
The Barnahus (and related) service models
Ethical approaches to researching sensitive issues

Current and recent research projects

Impact evaluation of the Barnahus model, a foundation for an evidence-based accreditation System (Oak Foundation/ Barnahus Network) April 2025 – March 2028 Co-I
Three site specific formative evaluations of the Scottish Bairns’ Hoose (Barnahus) pathfinders (Funded by Scottish Government through local partnerships: Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire, Sycamore Centre) Sept 2024 – July 2026 Co-I
Re-imagining Resistance: Evidencing the impact of creative participatory research with young people affected by sexual violence (Arts & Humanities Research Council) Feb 2025 - Jan 2026 – Co-I
A systematic review of interventions to support children & young people who have experienced child sexual abuse (Foundations: What Works Centre for Children and Families) August 2025 – July 2026
Young Researchers' Advisory Panel (Funder: Samworth Foundation/Porticus Foundation) PI
Power of Participation: An Introduction to Participatory Approaches for Childhood Sexual Violence Research in partnership with Terre des Hommes, Netherlands (PI, content development) (Funder: SVRI)
Learning Together: involving children and youth in sexual abuse research (Co-I) (Funder: Porticus)
Imagining Resistance through Participatory Photography: Exploring Resistance in Young People Victimised by Interpersonal and Sexual Violence (Co-I) (Funder: AHRC)
North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose (Barnahus) Evaluation (Research Fellow) (Funder: People’s Postcode Lottery)
DACE: Children and adult Victim and Witnesses experiences of court after domestic abuse (Co-I) (Funder: Scottish Government)
Learning from the Experts: Young people’s perspectives on how to support healthy child development after sexual abuse (Co-I) (Funder: NSPCC/ ESRC)
Making Noise: Children’s Voices for Positive Change after Sexual abuse (PI) (Funder: Children’s Commissioner for England)
Making Justice Work: Experiences of criminal justice for children and young people affected by sexual exploitation as victims and witnesses (Joint PI)

Selected journal articles

Beckett H, Warrington C and Bracewell K (2025) Enhancing Children’s Involvement in, and Influence over, Domestic Abuse and Family Violence Knowledge Creation through Trauma-informed Approaches to Research. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-025-00945-7
Warrington C, Benchekroun R, Millar H, Whittington E, Bradley L, Elizabeth M, Hamilton C, Howard K, Poingdestre E, and Walker K (2024). Participation for protection: New perspectives on the value of young people’s involvement in research addressing sexual violence. Childhood – Special Edition on deepening collaborative practices 31 (3) https://doi.org/10.1177/09075682241269720
Warrington C, Langhoff K, and Warnock B (2024) The role of arts-based methods in supporting safe and participatory research addressing sexual violence with young people. Health Education Journal 84 (4) https://doi.org/10.1177/00178969241299750
Beckett H and Warrington C (2024) ‘Do no harm’? Rethinking risk and harm narratives in abuse-focused research with children, Child Protection and Practice 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2024.100037
Warnock B, Hickle K and Warrington C (2024) Imagining Resistance: Reflecting on the role of creative practice in facilitating young people’s capacity to represent and document their own experiences of resistance. Membrana – Journal of Photography, Theory and Visual Culture Vol 8 (1) https://doi.org/10.47659/mj-v8n1id140
Ellis K, Hickle K and Warrington C. (2023). Researching Sensitive Topics with Children and Young People: Ethical Practice and Blurry Boundaries. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406923120701
Warrington, Camille & Beckett, Helen & Allnock, Debra & Soares, Claire, 2023. Children’s perspectives on family members’ needs and support after child sexual abuse," Children and Youth Services Review, 149 (C) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106925
Warrington C, Allnock, D, Soares, C and Beckett, H (2022) ‘They let you share when you need to share’: navigating the potential and precarity of informal peer support to young people after sexual abuse in adolescence Child Abuse Review. 32(3) https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2804
Cody C, Bovarnick S, Peace D, and Warrington, C (2022) ‘Keeping the informal safe’: Strategies for developing peer support initiatives for young people who have experienced sexual violence Children & Society 36 (5) https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12555
Warrington C and Larkins C (2019) Children at the centre of safety: challenging the false juxtaposition of protection and participation. Journal of Children’s Services. 14(3) https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-09-2019-055
Hamilton C, Rodgers A, Howard K and Warrington C (2019) ‘From the ground up: young research advisors’ perspectives on relationships between participation and protection’, Journal of Children’s Services, 14(3) https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-07-2019-0037
Firmin C, Warrington C, and Pearce J (2016) Sexual Exploitation and its Impact on Developing Sexualities and Sexual Relationships: The Need for Contextual Social Work Interventions. British Journal of Social Work, 46(8) https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcw134
Warrington C (2010) ‘From less harm to more good: the role of children and young people’s participation in relation to sexual exploitation’. Youth and Policy, Vol 104 http://hdl.handle.net/10547/224876

Selected book chapters and reports

Duncan, C., Mitchell, M., Wretman, C., and Warrington, C. (2025) Preparing for Bairns' Hoose in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: Professionals Survey on Current Systems and Readiness for Change. Child Safety, Justice and Recovery Group, University of Edinburgh.
Mitchell,M., Warrington, C., Devaney, J., Lavoie.J., Lamb, E., Hill, L., Wretman, C., Duncan,C (2024) The Journey so far: North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose - Phase Two Evaluation Report. Child Safety, Justice and Recovery Group, University of Edinburgh
Lavoie J, Mitchell M, Warrington C, Hill L and Yates, P (2024) ‘Exploring justice tensions in the Barnahus model’ in and Johansson S, Stefanson K, Bakketeig E and Kaldal A (eds) Aiming for Justice and Recovery for Child Victims of Violence and Abuse. Geneva. Palgrave
Hill, N and Warrington, C (2022) ‘Nothing about me without me’, in Holmes, D (ed) Adolescent Safeguarding. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Mitchell M, Warrington, C, Lavoie J, Devaney J and Yates P (2023) Evaluation of the North Strathclyde Bairns Hoose: Phase 1 report. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh
Allnock, D, Beckett, H, Soares, C, Starbuck, L, Warrington, C and Walker, J (2022) Learning from the Experts: Understanding the mental health and emotional wellbeing needs of those who experience sexual abuse during adolescence. Luton/London. University of Bedfordshire /NSPCC
Warrington, C (2020) Creating a safe space: Ideas for the development of participatory group work to address sexual violence with young people. Luton. University of Bedfordshire
Beckett, H and Warrington, C with Devlin, J (2019) Learning about online sexual harm. London: IICSA
Bovarnick, S, Peace, D, Warrington, C, & Pearce, J (2018). Being heard: promoting children and young people’s involvement in participatory research on sexual violence: findings from an international scoping review. Luton: University of Bedfordshire
Warrington C (2017) Young person-centred approaches in CSE - promoting participation and building self-efficacy: Frontline Briefing. Dartington: Research in Practice.
Warrington C and Brodie, I (2017) ‘Developing participatory practice and culture in CSE services’ in Pearce and Beckett (eds) Child Sexual Exploitation http://hdl.handle.net/10547/623373
Warrington, C, Ackerley, E, Beckett, H, Walker, M & Allnock, D (2016) Making Noise: Children’s voices for positive change after sexual abuse’ Luton: University of Bedfordshire/ Children’s Commissioner.
Beckett, H and Warrington, C (2015) ‘Making justice work: experiences of criminal justice for children and young people affected by sexual exploitation as victims and witnesses’. Luton: University of Bedfordshire

Participatory and non-academic outputs

Recent conference papers and invited presentations (recent)

Reframing Trauma ‘Recovery’ in Barnahus from Child Centred Perspectives – Findings evaluating Children’s First Recovery Model Nordic Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect (NFBO). Copenhagen. May 2025
What children and young people identify as key needs for child abuse research engagement to be a safe, comfortable and meaningful experience. Workshop. ISPCAN. Sweden August 2024
New understandings on ‘recovery’ for children and young people who experience CSA: Findings from a UK based Qualitative study Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum. October 2024
Safely and ethically engaging children and young people in child sexual violence research. Capetown (pre conference workshop). Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum. October 2024
Challenging the monoliths: Utilising Barnahus to enable child friendly justice and recovery. Symposium paper. European Conference on Domestic Violence. Reykjavik. September 2023
Implementing Scotland’s ‘gold-standard’ Domestic Abuse Act in times of precarity: the perspectives of victim-survivors and the response from national policy and practice leaders. Symposium. European Conference on Domestic Violence. Reykjavik. September 2023
When ‘a System does not know itself’: Understanding the nature and consequences of unbridged professional boundaries that a Scottish Barnahus hopes to address Symposium paper. ISPCAN (International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect). Edinburgh. September 2023
Imagining Resistance: Exploring resistance and recognition through a participatory creative arts project with young survivors of sexual violence European Conference on Social Work Research. April 2023

Postgraduate Supervision

I currently supervise PhD and professional doctorate students and am particularly interested in supporting new students whose work focuses on child and youth participation and activism in contexts of violence and abuse; policy and practice responses to child sexual abuse; child and youth experiences of justice in the aftermath of violence and abuse.
Creative and participatory research methodologies

Expert Advisory Roles and Academic support

Home Office: CSEA Sector Steering Group: Victim and Survivor Panel (August 2025 – present)
Founder and co-Lead UK and Ireland Barnahus Community of Practice (Jan 2024 – present)
Honorary Research Fellow, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh (August 2024 – present)
Ethics review panel member - Institute of Applied Social Research, University of Bedfordshire (2018 – present)