Tag: Speak Out Stay Safe programme

Volunteers needed to help NSPCC keep children safe from abuse and neglect

  • Last year, the NSPCC delivered its Speak out Stay safe programme to nearly 63,000 children in Scotland
  • The assembly helps children understand abuse in all its forms and where to ask for help.
  • The charity rolled out a refreshed version of the programme earlier this year alongside a new promotional video and is encouraging schools across the UK to sign up
  • NSPCC Scotland is appealing for volunteers to help share these vital messages in primary schools

NSPCC Scotland has released new today which reveals that their Speak out Stay safe educational programme was delivered to 62, 986 children across 348 schools in Scotland last year (April 2023 to March 24).

Speak out Stay safe, which has been running since 2011, aims to help primary school children understand abuse in an age-appropriate way, as well as teach them where to ask for help.

The NSPCC believes empowering children with this knowledge is vital as on average two children in a primary school class across the UK have experienced abuse or neglect.

Educating children on abuse and neglect helps them to recognise situations or signs which will enable them to share their concerns with a safe adult.

Earlier this year the children’s charity rolled out a refreshed version of the programme, with a new promotional video. The updated version of Speak out Stay safe, which is available to all UK primary schools, includes a range of resources – which varies depending on the age of the children. Schools can benefit from virtual assemblies, lesson plans and face-to-face workshops with NSPCC trained volunteers.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Speak out Stay safe was delivered in more than 90% of all primary schools across the UK. This was affected due to the lockdown and using its refreshed service model, the children’s charity is ambitious to rebuild numbers and reach more children.

Speak out Stay safe volunteer, Karen Duncan (60) from Auchterarder, Perthshire, said: “Speak out Stay safe is a brilliant programme that helps children recognise what may be happening to them, that’s it not ok, and that they can speak to someone.

“I was a teacher for 30 years, but you don’t need previous professional experience of working with children to do this.

“The most important thing is that you are concerned about the wellbeing of children and would like to help keep them safe. The training and support are exceptionally good and it’s great to be part of a team with the same goal in mind.

“I feel I’m making a difference. If I can prevent abuse happening to one child, then I’ve done what I set off to do.”

Enola Butler, NSPCC Scotland Schools coordinator, said: “Speak out Stay safe is a vital safeguarding service in schools which helps them to understand what abuse is and where they can turn for help.

“We know many children might not be aware that they are experiencing abuse, and they might be scared about speaking out because they are worried about repercussions.

“Our volunteer numbers have reduced in recent years, and we would love to hear from anyone who is interested in joining us for just a few hours each month.

“Many volunteers have told us they feel privileged to be helping to spread these really important messages and we’d like to reach every child in Scotland to let them know that abuse is never their fault, and help is available.”

The programme is available in English, Welsh and incorporating British Sign Language and there is also a version of the programme for children with additional needs and disabilities.

To find out about volunteering visit: NSPCC | Volunteers

To sign up to Speak out Stay safe visit: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/services/speak-out-stay-safe/

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk.

Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.

Letters: Volunteers needed in Edinburgh for NSPCC school service

Dear Editor,

Did you know that in the average primary school class, at least two children will have suffered abuse or neglect? At children’s charity the NSPCC, we are doing all that we can to change this, but we need the help of people in Scotland.

Child abuse is preventable – not inevitable. That is why we have been delivering our Speak Out Stay Safe service across the country. Through a virtual assembly and in-person workshop and with the help of our mascot Buddy, our Speak Out Stay Safe programme covers topics like bullying and abuse – without using any scary words or adult language.

Children learn about the different types of abuse in a child-friendly and age-appropriate way, so they can get help if or when they need it. We help them identify a trusted adult they can talk to if they are ever worried about themselves or a friend. And they learn about Childline and how it can support them.

But to reach all primary school children in Scotland, we need people from the community to volunteer to go into schools and deliver this ground-breaking programme.

We are recruiting volunteers in the following areas – EDINBURGH, Glasgow, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Perth & Kinross, Inverness, Angus, Aberdeen City, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire.

If you can spare the time to visit two schools a month, we will give you all the training and support you need to help empower a whole generation with the understanding and confidence they need to speak out.

The deadline for applications is June 23. To find out more and to apply, please visit NSPCC Volunteering | Volunteer to keep school children safe, or email volunteerrecruitment@nspcc.org.uk with any questions.

ours sincerely,

Sally McFawn

NSPCC Schools Service Manager

NSPCC counting on children’s TV legend to inspire Edinburgh schools to support maths fun day

Children’s TV legend Johnny Ball is joining the NSPCC’s call to schools and nurseries across Edinburgh to take part in a maths-inspired fundraiser this February.

Number Day is an annual event aimed at children in nurseries, primary and secondary schools, with teachers and pupils raising vital funds for the NSPCC while having fun with maths.

This year’s event takes place on Friday, February 3, and will see free curriculum-based activities available for schools across the country to download to help liven up their lessons while raising funds for the children’s charity.

Johnny Ball, veteran children’s TV presenter and maths enthusiast, will also be supporting Number Day by providing a series of videos for the NSPCC that will feature activity ideas of his own. Johnny’s videos will be available on YouTube and social media. He said: “The NSPCC’s Number Day is a great way for all children and schools to celebrate the joy of learning mathematics while supporting such a great cause.

“Maths is an essential part of a child’s education as the ability to count, play with numbers and tackle puzzles, builds confidence and problem-solving thinking – all of which are essential lifelong skills. And most important of all, learning maths is fun.”

Since Number Day was first launched in 2000, it has raised nearly £3 million for the NSPCC. Last year, 5,000 schools got involved with Number Day and raised £400,000.

Funds raised from Number Day could help support vital NSPCC services such as Childline and the charity’s Speak out Stay safe programme, which sees the NSPCC visit primary schools and teach children how to recognise signs of abuse and neglect, and who to talk to if they are worried.

Within the last year, 5667 children from schools in Edinburgh took part in the NSPCC’s online Speak Out Stay Safe programme.

Registration for Number Day is free through the NSPCC website. Once a school is registered, the NSPCC will provide resources that can be used in the classroom, including new games and activities, such as Dress up for Digits where children and staff can wear an item of clothing with a number on it and make a donation to the NSPCC.

Georgia Hall-Newell, NSPCC Schools Coordinator for Edinburgh, said: “Whether you’re from a school or a nursery, by taking part in this year’s Number Day, not only will you be inspiring children by making maths education fun but you’ll be helping to support the NSPCC as well.

“This year’s Number Day promises to be our best mega maths fundraiser yet, with NSPCC Rock which is an online times tables competition for schools, and more resources than ever before being made available to schools, thanks to Oxford University Press, Maths on Toast, GoHenry, SchoolOnline and Maths Circle.”

Number Day is also supported by partners including Man Group, OUP and IRIS ParentMail. 

Schools and nurseries can sign up to Number Day for free by visiting the NSPCC’s website at www.nspcc.org.uk/numberday.

Any queries in relation to Number Day can be emailed to: numberday@nspcc.org.uk

Meanwhile further information about Dress Up for Digits and ideas for costumes can also be found on the NSPCC’s website.

Please remember to share your Number Day posts and photos on social media and to include the hashtag #NumberDay.

NSPCC Scotland urges schools to sign up to Speak Out Stay Safe virtual child safety programme

NSPCC Scotland is urging primary schools across the country to sign up to its free virtual programme to help children learn about their right to be safe from abuse and neglect.

The children’s charity is highlighting its online assembly, which is hosted by celeb duo Ant and Dec and was first launched in October, as schools open again for the summer term.

The ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ assembly helps children understand, in an accessible and age-appropriate way, how to recognise different forms of abuse and empower them to speak out if they need to.

It also focuses on some of the additional worries that children have been experiencing during the pandemic and lets them know about the Childline counselling service, which is run by the NSPCC.

Before the pandemic, staff and volunteers from the children’s charity tried to visit every primary school in Scotland every two years, delivering interactive assemblies and workshops.

However, due to social distancing measures in place they have been unable to visit schools since March last year, so instead the NSPCC has made a 30-minute online assembly. This is being offered to all primary schools in the UK, along with supporting teaching materials with classroom activities.

Alan Stewart, Service Manager for NSPCC Schools Service in Scotland, said: “Over the past year, because of the pandemic, children have spent a lot of time away from school and cut off from their usual support networks. We know for some children home isn’t always a safe place and that many will have faced increased risk of harm.

“Although our trained ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ staff and volunteers can’t currently go into schools, it is essential that every child knows who they can turn to if they need help and support.

“I encourage all primary schools to sign up, so that we can work alongside teachers to help as many children as possible to recognise and discuss any worries they have.”

When children returned to school in the Autumn term last year, 171 primary schools in Scotland signed up to the virtual programme, with more than 32,000 children across the country watching the assembly.

Carronshore Primary School, in Falkirk, was one of those that signed up. A teacher at the school said: “I found the materials excellent and extremely worthwhile. The pupils engaged really well and evidenced their learning through our Pupil Talking Circles, which reflected on the programme and how safe the pupils felt in the school building and in the playground.”

For more information or to sign-up your school for an assembly, visit www.nspcc.org.uk/speakout. 

The assembly and resources are also available in British Sign Language (BSL).

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can call Childline on 0800 1111 or they can get in touch via www.childline.org.uk