Tag: child safety

Three in five adults in Scotland believe the risk of children being abused increases over Christmas

  • New NSPCC poll also reveals one in eight respondents had concerns for the safety of a child known to them during the Christmas holidays
  • Financial pressures, substance misuse and strained family relationships are some of the main reasons given for why adults are concerned about children experiencing harm or abuse at home over the festive period
  • A new hard-hitting Childline campaign, supported by Natalie Dormer is raising awareness of how Christmas can be the most dangerous time of year for some children and how the service is here to help them through the holidays

Three in five adults in Scotland believe children face an increased risk of abuse (64%) and exposure to domestic violence (68%) during the Christmas holidays.

New polling from the NSPCC also reveals that one in eight adults have had concerns for the safety of a child they know over the festive period.

The YouGov survey of 4,259 UK adults, which includes 315 from Scotland, analysed the dangers that adults believe children face over Christmas and the potential reasons why young people are at increased risk.

When asked why they were concerned about children experiencing harm or abuse at home during the holidays, adults identified:

  • Financial pressures at home (75%),
  • Substance misuse at home (75%),
  • Food insecurity (64%)
  • Families spending more time together (68%)
  • Support services – social services, schools – either closed or operating at reduced capacity (67%).

The majority of respondents believe the most effective way to keep children safe at Christmas is for adults to be aware of the warning signs of abuse and neglect and ensuring young people know who to contact if they need support.

The new NSPCC poll comes as the charity launches a hard-hitting campaign shining a light on how, for some children, Christmas is the most dangerous time of year.

Last year thousands of young people from across the UK contacted the NSPCC’s Childline service with concerns about abuse across the winter period.

A young person told Childline: “Dad’s drinking always gets worse at Christmas. Then the drinking leads to arguments and the arguments turn into him hitting mum. I wish I could protect her, but dad is so much stronger than us both. I want to call the police, or social services, but who will come out at Christmas?”

The campaign advert, now showing on TV and running across radio, is inspired by the true story of a woman who was abused by her father. It follows a little girl Sarah, who returns home from school at the end of winter term and is confronted by the presence of her abusive father.

Another child, aged 16, told the service: “It always all kicks off at Christmas. Mum goes crazy at dad; she hates him trying to speak to his family, even to say Merry Christmas.

“She hates him speaking to anyone else really. I can hear her calling him lazy and useless for not doing enough again this year and she’s made him cry. I want to walk out, but where would I go on Christmas? I’ve locked myself in my room with my sister for now; when mum’s done with dad, she might blow up on us next.”

Natalie Dormer, actor, producer and NSPCC’s Ambassador for Childline, said: “These findings reveal an uncomfortable truth that often goes unspoken during the festive season. While many of us look forward to Christmas, far too many children face a season filled with uncertainty, anxiety and fear.

“The campaign advert, inspired by a real survivor’s story, captures the heartbreaking moment of dread when the school term ends and a child’s safe space disappears.

“Behind the closed doors of homes across the country, children are suffering in silence while the rest of us celebrate. This NSPCC campaign sends a crucial message: Childline will be there for every young person who needs support.”

This Christmas, Childline is reminding young people that it is there for them 24/7 via the phone on 0800 1111 and online through the 121 chat on the Childline website. 

Adeniyi Alade, head of Childline in Scotland, said: “We know from the children who reach out to us that the festive season can be one of the hardest times of the year. While many look forward to Christmas, for some young people it means being trapped at home with the very problems they fear most — whether that’s violence, substance misuse or simply feeling invisible.

“We want children in Scotland to know that Childline is always open, day and night, even over Christmas. No matter what’s happening behind closed doors, they can talk to us in confidence and we will listen.”

Chris Sherwood, CEO of the NSPCC, said: “This new research highlights a troubling reality that Christmas – which should be a time of joy and happiness for all children – can instead be a period of heightened danger for far too many children.

“Financial pressures, increased alcohol consumption, and strained family relationships are all factors that can heighten the risk of child abuse in the home over the festive period.

“That’s why our Christmas campaign is so important, reminding children they are not alone and that Childline is here for them day and night over the festive period.”

Any adults concerned about a child’s safety or wellbeing can contact the NSPCC Helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or by calling 0808 800 5000.    

Urgent water safety advice issued

Survey reveals dangerous mistaken belief

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is issuing urgent water safety advice to parents after a survey revealed a misconception that could be playing a role in an increasing number of children drowning. 

More than half of parents surveyed (55%) believe they would hear if their child was struggling in water as they think they would thrash about and make a lot of noise. 

The water safety charity is warning that child drownings happen quickly and silently. Leaving a child’s side for a moment can be enough time to miss a child quietly slipping under the water. 

RLSS UK has launched its spring campaign, ‘Splash Safety at your Pad’, which was created in response to the charity’s Child Drowning Update. The report, which was written in collaboration with the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), found that across a four-year period, 51 children drowned at home in England – amounting to over one child a month, on average. 

The campaign will be running throughout May and is focusing on water safety in outdoor spaces at home, such as paddling pools, ponds, hot tubs and more. 

Matt Croxall, Interim Charity Director at RLSS UK, said: “The importance of our campaign was highlighted when we discovered such worrying statistics surrounding parents’ understanding of water safety risks. 

“We want to take these misconceptions and educate more families to be aware of the risks, so they can keep their children safe around water at home, particularly as the weather warms up and more people are out enjoying their gardens. 

“Our latest campaign, focusing on water safety advice across outdoor spaces, will ensure parents have a greater understanding around the importance of supervising their children when in and around water at home.” 

In the last four years, 86% of child drownings occurred when the child was left unsupervised.

As the experts in water safety education, RLSS UK has issued the following advice to ensure that families can enjoy water safely in their outdoor spaces: 

Stay together  

Young children should always be kept within arm’s reach. Never leave your child unattended or under the supervision of child siblings.   

Secure  

Almost 90% of parents of under 5s have at least one potential water hazard in their outdoor space at home1. Lock doors and gates to outdoor spaces to prevent unsupervised access.  

Prepare  

Get any towels, toys, nappies and dry clothing ready to go before children start their water play. This will ensure you won’t need to leave their side.  

Avoid distractions…  

…such as using a mobile phone when children are playing in or around water. In a group of adults, appoint a ‘water watcher’ to ensure children are supervised at all times.   

Empty it out, cover it up  

After your children have enjoyed splashing about in their paddling pool, empty the water out straight away to avoid accidents.   

In the case of larger pools and hot tubs, ensure that the cover is securely replaced immediately after use to prevent children from accidentally falling in.   

Tidy   

When you’ve finished playing, it’s best to totally clear up your space – turn off the hosepipe at the tap to block access.  

Clear away or turn over paddling pools and any other water containers, like buckets, as these can unexpectedly fill up with water if it rains.   

For more helpful advice and tips for staying splash safe at home, including bath time visit the campaign pages on the RLSS UK website: www.rlss.org.uk/splash-safety 

Meet Pantosaurus!

THIS MORNING AT MUIRHOUSE LIBRARY

BRING your kids along to meet Pantosaurus and listen to his roarsome story!

Muirhouse Library, Friday 18 Oct, 10.30am

Stockbridge Library, Friday 25 Oct, 2.30pm

South Queensferry Library, Friday 1 Nov, 10.30am

Find out more about keeping children safe at http://edinburgh.gov.uk/talkpants

Children’s author shares Talk PANTS message to help keep children safe in Edinburgh

A popular children’s book author took time out of writing recently to read a book to youngsters which aims to spread crucial messages to help keep children safe from abuse.

Bruna De Luca (47), who lives in Melrose in the Scottish Borders, was delighted when the children at the Sighthill library event joined in with all the catchphrases when she read from the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS story which features a colourful animated dinosaur, called Pantosaurus, and her own book ‘I’m Not Cute, I’m Dangerous’.

The Pantosaurus book and animation, which features a fun song, helps children to understand the talk PANTS messages which includes that their body belongs to them, that they have a right to say no, and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

Bruna, mum of two girls aged 10 and seven, said: “As a parent of young children I love how the Talk PANTS book approaches such a tricky topic without introducing fear or ideas that children might worry about.

“It helps parents and carers to talk about this subject in a positive and reassuring way that won’t make their child feel anxious.

“The children really enjoyed hearing these stories and it was lovely to see the delight on their faces when a life-sized Pantosaurus visited too!

“Many of the children already knew the words to the Talk PANTS song and they joined in. They were having so much fun that they didn’t even know they were learning some very important messages at the same time.”

Talk PANTS gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse.

This event was part of the NSPCC’s Edinburgh Talk PANTS campaign to help protect young children from sexual abuse which has resulted in approximately 4,110 Talk PANTS conversations with people in the city since it launched last September.

Edinburgh, Talk PANTS is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland, the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and a wide range of partners across the city to spread the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS message.

During the past year, local PANTS professionals have been trained to deliver the campaign messages and resources to other professionals and families across Edinburgh through webinars and workshops.

And several awareness raising events have been held across the city for parents, carers and children, including a fun family day with Pantosaurus at Edinburgh Zoo and family sessions at Edinburgh Book Festival.

Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns Manager, said: “We are very grateful to Bruna for supporting this campaign – the children absolutely loved meeting her and listening to her story as well as The Power of PANTS.

“We know that a simple conversation can make a big difference in helping to keep children safe and that’s what Talk PANTS is all about.

“With the help of our fun, loving dino – Pantosaurus – we’ve already reached thousands of people across the city, and we’re looking forward to having more conversations at upcoming events.”

Lillian Cringles, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “We’re extremely pleased that this campaign has already helped thousands of parents, carers and professionals to have such important conversations with children about their bodies and how to stay safe. 

“I’d urge families to look out for other events on our web pages to learn more about the TalkPANTS message.”

There will be a reading of Pantosaurus and the Power of PANTS and a special visit from the friendly dinosaur at Portobello Book Festival on Saturday, 5 October – following bookbug. For more information, visit: EdinburghTalkPANTS

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email: help@NSPCC.org.uk for advice.

Children and young people can contact Childline about anything that may be worrying them by calling 0800 1111 or by visiting: www.childline.org.uk

The NSPCC would like to thank Baker-Ross for their donation of children’s craft packs.

Children learn about keeping safe during Pantosaurus visit to Zoo

Families learned about keeping children safe from harm when our fun-loving dinosaur visited Edinburgh Zoo recently.

Pantosaurus, the friendly dinosaur character which fronts the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS campaign, was joined by more than 370 people at the zoo for colouring activities and sharing the Talk PANTS messages.

This event was part of a campaign which launched in Edinburgh last October to help protect children across the city from sexual abuse.

EdinburghTalkPANTS is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland in partnership with the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and a wide range of partners across the city. to spread the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS message.

Talk PANTS was developed with children, parents, carers and teachers to help protect young children by giving parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children.

Key messages are delivered to children, with help from Pantosaurus, so they understand that their body belongs to them, they have a right to say no and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried.

Lauren Engall, NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns Officer, said: “It was amazing to take Pantosaurus and Talk PANTS to Edinburgh Zoo. Many of the families recognised Pantosaurus and knew the PANTS song, so it was great to see that the message of Talk PANTS is spreading.

“Many thanks to staff from Edinburgh Zoo for having us and Pantosaurus there. The children really enjoyed spending the afternoon with our friendly and colourful dinosaur.

“Talk PANTS lets us speak to children about their rights and how to keep safe in an age-appropriate way and it was brilliant to see so many families turn up for the event. A simple conversation can make a big difference and that’s what Talk PANTS is all about.”

Other upcoming Talk PANTS events in Edinburgh include appearances at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August 20th, the Primary School Gala Day at the Book Festival on August 22nd, and a family day at Sighthill Library on August 30th which will include a reading by popular children’s author Bruna De Luca, from her book I’m Not Cute, I’m Dangerous.

For more information about Talk PANTS, visit the , and to find out about other events taking place in Edinburgh, visit EdinburghTalkPANTS

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@NSPCC.org.uk for advice.

Children and young people can contact Childline about anything that may be worrying them by calling 0800 1111 or by visiting: www.childline.org.uk

NSPCC launches UK-wide campaign to keep children safe

Thousands of child sexual offences recorded in Scotland

  • Data from Police Scotland shows that 5,557 sexual offences against under-16s were recorded in 2022/23.
  • Across the UK, almost 87,000 child sexual offences were recorded by police in this period.
  • Types of offences included rape, sexual assault, sexual grooming and indecent communication.
  • To help tackle this issue, the NSPCC Helpline and the Home Office are launching a campaign to encourage adults to reach out with concerns of child sexual abuse.

New figures compiled by the NSPCC reveal that child sexual offences recorded over the past year by police across the UK and in Scotland remain close to record levels.

The Freedom of Information data totalled 86,962 child sexual offences recorded by police across the UK in 2022/23, which remains one of the highest on record since the charity started the annual research 16 years ago.

In Scotland, 5,557 child sexual offences were recorded by Police Scotland in 2022/23 – close to the record levels recorded in the previous year (5,640). 

Types of offences included rape, sexual assault, sexual grooming and indecent communication.

This comes as the NSPCC launches a new campaign in partnership with the Home Office to tackle child sexual abuse.

Together they are encouraging the public to contact the charity’s UK adult Helpline if they are concerned that a child could be at risk. The partnership will also encourage people to report on instances where there are concerns that a child might be experiencing sexual abuse.

The Home Office is providing funding for the NSPCC Helpline to increase capacity and to raise awareness of the service to the public and professionals.

The NSPCC has also created two films promoting the new campaign. These films show how adults can use the Helpline to share any concerns they may have about a child’s safety or welfare. One of these films is tailored to professionals, and the other reaches out to the general public.

The NSPCC Helpline is the charity’s free advice line for any adult who may have concerns about a child, including professionals who work with children.

The Helpline’s dedicated child protection specialists can advise on a wide range of issues. Adults can contact the Helpline for guidance and support on issues affecting children, as well as for cases of suspected child abuse. People should always contact 999 if they suspect a child is in immediate danger.

One parent in Scotland told the Helpline*: “My son has been a victim of scammers online. He’s so withdrawn and hardly sleeping.

“He believed he was talking to a girlfriend online, the same age as him, and ‘she’ convinced him to send explicit images of himself. These were actually adult male scammers who are now demanding money from him, or they’ll leak his pictures.”

The NSPCC also operates a dedicated Whistleblowing Helpline, which can be contacted for any concerns around child protection issues within the workplace, or other professional organisations.

Childline, the charity’s free child counselling service, hears directly from children on the impact sexual abuse can have on their lives.

One young person in Scotland aged 15 told Childline*: “Today I told a friend about a family member sexually abusing me and it felt like such a weight off my shoulders. I was so young when it started and they’re still in my life; it’s confusing when they’re a normal family member to everyone else. I

“t has caused a lot of tears and self-hate. It’s scary talking about it but I knew I needed to tell someone like Childline.”

The NSPCC is calling on the general public, including those who work with children, to use the Helpline to express any concerns they may have regarding a child, even if they are not certain. In doing this, every person can play a part in keeping children safe from sexual abuse.

Kam Thandi, Helpline Director at the NSPCC, said: “The high numbers of child sexual offences being reported by the police in Scotland and across the UK are a warning to us all that more must be done to tackle this abuse.

“This new Helpline campaign, in partnership with the Home Office, will encourage the general public and professionals to reach out with concerns about child sexual abuse.  All of us must play our part in protecting children.

“The Helpline deals with concerns about children, no matter how big or small, and we’re encouraging adults to contact us. What is shared could be life-changing for a child experiencing sexual abuse.”

Any adults concerned about a child’s safety or wellbeing can contact the NSPCC helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or by calling 0808 800 5000. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk.

Edinburgh talking PANTS tomorrow!

Campaign being launched in Edinburgh to help keep children safe from sexual abuse

A campaign to help protect young children from sexual abuse is being launched in Edinburgh tomorrow with an online event for professionals who work with children and families in the city.

The year-long campaign is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland, the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and a wide range of partners across the city to spread the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS message.

Talk PANTS gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse.

With the help of a colourful animated dinosaur, called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them, that they have a right to say no and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

Over the coming year, local PANTS champions will be trained to deliver the campaign messages and resources to other professionals and families through webinars and workshops, and awareness raising events will be held across Edinburgh for parents, carers and children.

The online launch, which will run from 2pm to 4pm on Thursday, October 5, will explore how we can better prevent and respond to child sexual abuse, using PANTS, and the next steps of the campaign.

The online event is open to all professionals who work with children and families in Edinburgh, and it will take place on Microsoft Teams.

NSPCC Scotland’s Assistant Director Karen Head will introduce the event, and this will be followed with the personal story from a mum whose daughter was sexually abused. There will also be speeches from Stuart Allardyce, Director of Lucy Faithfull Foundation / Stop It Now! Scotland, Laura Brown, Edinburgh Child Protection Lead Officer and NSPCC Scotland’s Local Campaigns Manager Carla Malseed.

Carla Malseed, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: “Each year in Scotland, Police record more than 5,000 sexual offences committed against children. It is crucial that we do all we can to help prevent abuse from happening in the first place.

“The Talk PANTS campaign is about helping start difficult, but vital, conversations with children from a young age about sexual abuse and their right to be safe. 

“We don’t talk about sex or use scary words but focus on rules that help children understand important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they’re upset or worried.”

NSPCC Scotland’s Assistant Director Karen Head, said: “We are delighted to be launching this campaign in Edinburgh to help prevent sexual abuse and keep children across the city safer.

“The Talk PANTS message and Pantosaurus animation makes it much easier for parents, carers and professionals to tackle this topic in a straightforward, fun and light-hearted way that children can understand and easily put into practice.”

Lillian Cringles, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “This campaign will help families and professionals have these important conversations with children about their bodies and help keep them safe. I urge as many professionals, parents and carers as possible to come along to our events in Edinburgh over the next few months.”

The first event for parents, carers and children aged 3-11, will be held at the McDonald Road Library on Tuesday, October 17 from 3 to 4.30pm. Also, a PANTS coffee morning will be held at the new NSPCC Community Hub in Leith on Wednesday, November 1, from 10.30am until 11.30am.

Other events throughout the year will promote the campaign materials and resources for parents, which includes a British Sign Language PANTS video, a Talking PANTS with Makaton guide which is designed to be used to deliver the PANTS message to children with Additional Support Needs and a Pantosaurus film. There are also resources for teachers to use in primary schools.

To book a place at the online launch event, visit: Edinburgh, Talk PANTS launch event for professionals Tickets, Thu 5 Oct 2023 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

Find out more about Edinburgh Talk PANTS here.

Parents and professionals can also find out how to Talk PANTS here. The adult guides include ones for foster carers and parents with learning disabilities.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.

NSPCC: Majority of Scots want tougher Online Safety Bill that holds tech bosses responsible for child safety

  • Survey shows public backing for senior tech managers to be held legally responsible for safety and liable if products cause serious harm to children
  • MPs, bereaved parents, and 2,192 campaigners in Scotland back calls to strengthen Online Safety Bill’s response to protecting children on social media
  • NSPCC estimates over 21,000 online child sexual offences recorded by police since legislation was delayed last summer

Four out of five (84%) adults in Scotland want senior tech managers to be appointed and held legally responsible for stopping children being harmed by social media, according to new polling of UK adults, of which 200 live in Scotland.

The survey by YouGov also found that 72% of those with an opinion in Scotland would want senior managers prosecuted for failures that resulted in serious harm to children.

The NSPCC, who commissioned the research, said the findings show overwhelming public support for tougher enforcement measures in the UK Government’s Online Safety Bill.

Currently, the legislation would only hold tech bosses responsible for failing to give information to the regulator Ofcom, and not for corporate decisions that result in preventable harm or sexual abuse.

The move is being supported by Ruth Moss, whose 13-year-old daughter Sophie died by suicide after viewing suicidal and self-harm posts and being groomed on social media.

The Edinburgh nurse has been campaigning with the NSPCC for several years for robust new legislation that would force tech bosses to make their sites safe for children.

Ruth Moss said: “As far as I’m concerned, where companies wilfully break the law and put the lives of children like my daughter at risk, of course senior managers should be criminally accountable. The consequences of non- compliance are life changing for children like Sophie.

“Criminal liability drives the right behaviours in those with the most responsibility. It works in other industries and there is no reason in my mind as to why big tech executives should be treated any differently.”

The Online Safety Bill has been subject to delays amid intense scrutiny in recent months as the UK Government amended elements relating to adult safety.

The Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has repeatedly said protections for children would be strengthened and campaigners argue holding tech bosses liable for the safety of young users would send a signal of intent to Big Tech.

2,192 people in Scotland signed an open letter to Ms Donelan calling for the legislation to properly hold senior managers to account for the safety of sites children use.

Rachel Talbot, 15, from Angus in Scotland, who handed the letter into the Culture Secretary with other members of the NSPCC’s Young People’s Board for Change, said: “Far too much pressure is put on young people from such a young age to keep themselves safe online.

“Too many children are exposed to content promoting self-harm and eating disorders. It’s become a norm in our everyday lives.

“We need a Bill that is going to hold big tech firms accountable. Without it, young people are on their own. We’ve been on our own for so long online – and it’s not working.”

Some Conservative MPs are also calling on the Government to amend the Bill to hold senior managers liable for children’s safety when it returns to UK Parliament this month (January 16th).

Senior MPs including former Home Secretary Priti Patel, Sir William Cash and Miriam Cates are backing the amendment which would mean tech bosses would finally be held to account if their platforms contributed to the serious harm, abuse, or death of a child.

Campaigners say the UK risks being out of step as Irish laws passed last month will hold senior tech bosses liable for online safety changes.

But they argued that making the suggested changes would cement the UK as a global authority for children’s safety online.

Miriam Cates MP said: “It’s clear to most people that the big global tech companies are not going to wake up one day and suddenly decide to start protect children from harmful online content.

“We have seen repeated failures of Big tech to protect children from the horrors of sexual exploitation, pornography and content that draws them into self-harm and suicide, and sadly the Online Safety Bill as it stands will not stop this.

“The only way to secure the change we desperately need is to make senior directors personally responsible for failures to protect children and that’s why I urge all MPs to support this amendment to include senior manager liability in the Online Safety Bill.”

The amendment has cross-party support including from the Labour frontbench.

Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell MP said: “Labour has long called for the online safety bill to be strengthened especially when it comes to the liability – including criminal liability – of social media bosses. Without these sanctions there’s a real risk that a UK regulator will be toothless.

“Yet instead of strengthening the laws, the Government has recently gutted and watered down the bill, letting social media companies off the hook and allowing harms, abuse and hate to continue.

“I welcome the campaigning work of the NSPCC to toughen this Bill.”

The NSPCC said senior managers must also be liable for preventing child sexual abuse that is taking place at a record scale online.

The charity estimates that 600 online child sexual abuse crimes will have been recorded by Police Scotland in the time the legislation was delayed in July until it is likely to pass through Parliament on January 16th.

Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “2022 was the year the Online Safety Bill faced delay after delay while children faced sexual abuse on an industrial scale and tech bosses sat on their hands as their algorithms continued to bombard young users with hugely dangerous material.

“This year must be the year legislation delivers the systemic change for children online that our polling shows families up and down the UK want.

“The Government can do this by delivering bold, world-leading regulation that ensures the buck stops with senior management for the safety of our children.”

Free safeguarding course to grassroots sports clubs

Former England, Manchester city, Liverpool and Tottenham player Paul Stewart has partnered with online learning provider High Speed Training to offer a free Safeguarding in Sport training course to all grassroots sports clubs in the UK.

Abuse in grassroots sports is a topic which is very much in the spotlight, following many high profile sports players such as Paul revealing their own experiences of mistreatment in their club as a child.

Paul, who scored for Tottenham in the 1991 FA Cup Final, has been open about his own experiences of abuse in sports as a child and was one of the first players to come forward in 2016 with details of historical abuse at the hands of a youth team coach.

Working with the education and safeguarding experts at High Speed Training, Paul has helped to create the only survivor-led safeguarding course aimed at sports clubs, which is being offered for free to all grassroots sporting clubs in the UK.

Clubs can register to take the training, which is supported by the English Football League and Kick It Out, by visiting:

www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/courses/safeguarding/safeguarding-in-sport/

Backed by sporting figures such as Gary Lineker, rugby league giant Kevin Sinfield, former England and British Lions great Brian Moore, Olympic medalist Marilyn Okoro and Ryder Cup golfer Ian Poulter, the course provides sports coaches, parents and volunteers with the tools to be able to confidently identify and prevent abusive behaviours in grassroots sports, as well as understanding and implementing the recommended safeguarding procedures.

Paul Stewart said: “I am delighted that, by working with High Speed Training, I have been able to produce a survivor-led safeguarding course that I absolutely believe can make a difference.

“The support we have received has been incredible and I will be forever grateful to the people and organisations involved. It is an emotional subject, both for me and for others who have been affected. I am sure the course will have a lasting impact on those who take it.

“Everyone involved in all sports and physical activity settings with children and young people should have an awareness of these issues. We all know the benefits of playing sports for young people, and making sure that our children are safe whilst enjoying sports has to be the number one priority.

“Now the course is free to grassroots clubs, it is my hope that all adults will take the course and share what they have learned.”

Alexandra Richards, Head of Safeguarding at the English Football League, said: ‘The EFL are delighted to support this Safeguarding in Sport course and it is great to see the free initiative being made available to other organisations.

“We made the training available to all of our 72 member Clubs because it is unique in the fact that it is survivor-led and covers all the essentials needed for any role on the basics of safeguarding.

“The work Paul is doing with High Speed Training to ensure all children are safe at their clubs is outstanding and we will continue to support the wonderful work they are doing.”

Tajean Hutton, Grassroots Manager at Kick It Out says: “This is a great course, which we are proud to support at Kick It Out.

“We hear of several abuse related cases in grassroots sport every year, which is why courses like this are important to help educate those working at clubs, so they can better support young people and participants.

“The more we can do to identify and prevent abuse at a grassroots level, the more inclusive and inviting sport will become.”

In research carried out in September 2021, High Speed Training found that a third (32%) of parents are unsure whether their child’s sports coaches have undertaken safeguarding training.

The study, which was commissioned by the leading online training provider, also revealed that concerningly one in ten (10%) parents stated that they’re unsure whether they’d be confident in identifying the signs of abuse, be that physical, sexual, or emotional, in a child, whilst more than a quarter of parents haven’t discussed safeguarding issues with their children.

The fact that in 2021, 91% of children aged 5-16 particapte in some form of sport highlights the need for this training.2

Further research by the NSPCC3 also highlighted the lack of parental knowledge when it comes to safeguarding in sports, with 20% of parents whose children attend sports and leisure clubs admitting that they wouldn’t know who to speak to if they had any worries about a child’s welfare at the club.

Grassroots clubs can sign up to the course here:

https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/courses/safeguarding/safeguarding-in-sport/

Letters: When is your child old enough to be left home alone?

Dear Editor,

School’s out for summer and parents will be making important decisions about childcare over the next few weeks.

There isn’t a legal minimum age for a child to stay home or go out alone and parents often call the NSPCC Helpline to ask for advice on the appropriate age.

There’s no set rule for all because every child is different, but between work appointments and other family commitments, it’s inevitable that parents will have to consider whether to leave their child home alone at some point.

It can be difficult to know what’s best and with this in mind here’s some guidance about when it’s safe for your child to be home alone.

Infants and young children aged 0-3 years old should never be left alone – even for 15 minutes while you pop down the road. This also applies to leaving them in your car while you run into the shops.

While every child is different, we wouldn’t recommend leaving a child under 12 years old home alone, particularly for long periods of time.

It’s important to talk to your child about anything they may be worried about. Regularly checking how they feel can pinpoint any concerns and help you decide if they are ready to be left alone.

A child who doesn’t feel comfortable about staying alone should never be left home alone. Even if they are older, they may not be ready to look after themselves or know what to do in an emergency.

We have checklists to help keep children safe, visit: 

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/

Childline is also here for them. They can speak to a trained counsellor for FREE, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 0800 1111 or via 1-2-1 chat on www.childline.org.uk  

Gail Sayles

Local Campaigns Manager

NSPCC Scotland