Parents and Carers
We take safeguarding seriously, and want to be able to provide support not just for our young people but for their families too. You are always more than welcome to come into the academy to discuss any concerns or worries you may have. We are also happy to provide links to support agencies or charities who can offer free and impartial advice confidentially on a range of issues. Please explore some of our recommended organisations below.
Think You Know is a website you can go to that will help answer your questions and to let you know how to be safe when you are using the internet. You probably use the internet for games or to talk to friends or even to search for information - Think You Know can help you stay safe.
Visit the website at https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
Dos and Don’ts
DO NOT share private information on the internet.
If you are not sure DO check with your parents/carers before you give out information.
DO use the same rules when you surf the internet as you would walking down a street.
NEVER have face-to-face meetings with anyone you only know online.
DO accept friend requests from people you already know if you are friends with them, DO NOT accept friend requests or messages from strangers.
Cyber bullying is when one or more people try to tease, harass, threaten or embarrass another person using technology such as mobile phones or the Internet.
Childline can help you on with all sorts of problems you may be worried your child has, including mental health difficulties, any anxieties or issues you may have about your health, living situation or education.
You can call them for free to speak to someone privately. You can contact a Childline counsellor about anything, no problem is too big or too small.
Call free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk
YoungMinds are a charitable organisation who work with the Children and Adolescents Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to provide support, advice and counselling to young people experiencing depression, anxiety, bullying and eating difficulties. They offer a parent helpline for parents and carers worried about their children's mental wellbeing.
You can find a guide to support offered at https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/your-guide-to-support/
Their parental helpline can be reached through 0808 802 5544.
Mind are a nationwide mental health charity who are able to offer information and support for a variety of mental health issues. Working closely with the NHS they have a wide range of resources and information on their website, including an A-Z of Mental Health, advice for helping someone else, guides to support and services and Elefriends - their online community. Everyone is affected by a mental health difficulty at some point in their lifetime and Mind are on hand to help.
Visit their website on https://www.mind.org.uk/
Or call them today on 0300 123 3393 for their infoline.
Carers Direct is for anyone who is looking after a family member who is ill or disabled or needs special help. It is part of the NHS website and offers information and advice.
There is a phone number you can call to talk to someone on 0808 802 0202
Or you can visit their website on https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support/carers-assessment/#the-types-of-carer-support-available
There are lots of different people who can help you if you are being hurt at home or if you are worried about someone in your family being hurt at home. It can happen to anyone, but we don't always know who the right person is to talk to.
Refuge are an organisation that can help you if you are experiencing violence at home. They have information on their website about who you can talk to, how you can talk to them, and what to do if you are worried.
You can visit their website at www.refuge.org.uk
The NSPCC are there to talk to you if you are worried about a child being hurt or abused by someone They are able to offer support and to take some details from about what is happening. They can also offer a counselling service to young people.
You can visit their website at https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
You can email them on email@example.com or you can call them on 0808 800 5000
Shelter are able to offer housing advice to anyone who is experiencing or at risk of homelessness. You can find information on what to do about homelessness, private renting, tenancy deposits, repossession, eviction, repairs, housing benefits and council housing
You can visit their website at www.shelter.org.uk
If you are worried about how much you are drinking or how much a loved one is drinking there is lots of helpful advice and support on the drinkaware website. They also have a helpful drink tracker and tools for managing what your alcohol intake is. On their website you will find a list of alcohol support services with helplines available.
Visit their website at: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-support-services/
Every child has the right to not be touched by an adult when they do not want to. Female Genital Mutilation is illegal, and a form of abuse, therefore should be dealt with quickly and seriously. FGM comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
The NSPCC have a special helpline for anyone concerned about FGM, or anyone who has been affected by FGM. You can call them on 0800 028 3550 or email them directly on firstname.lastname@example.org
If you are concerned that a child is at imminent risk of harm, or may leave the country for the purposes of FGM in the next 48 hours you can call the police on 999.
Where concerns are not imminent but are still serious, please call the Children's Helpdesk on 01452 426565
The FMU is a government initiative set up to support anyone who is worried about or is at risk of being forced into a marriage, or anyone who has already been forced to marry another person. A trained professional will give you free advice on what you can do next, and help you with finding a safe place to stay or stopping a visa if you have been forced to sponsor someone. You have the right to choose who you marry, when you marry or if you marry at all.
Visit their website on https://www.gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage
Call their support line Monday to Friday (9-5) on 0207 008 0151 or during out of work hours on 0207 008 1500 and ask for the global response centre.
The Freedom Charity
The Freedom Charity have been raising awareness and working hard to stop forced marriages from happening within the UK. On their website you will find resources, information and direction for how to get support if you are concerned about someone or yourself.
Visit their website on www.freedomcharity.org.uk/resources
Or call their helpline on 0845 607 0133
Alternatively you can text them on 88802 and they will call you back. You need to send the message '4freedom'
If you are worried about a young person who might be pregnant, have any questions about pregnancy or know they are already pregnant and looking for support, Brook are able to help. They are a national organisation dedicated to educating young people about pregnancy and sexual health, and have many links with other support services and helplines. They also have a forum available for users to post questions and communicate with each other in a safe and supportive environment.
Visit their website at https://www.brook.org.uk/your-life/category/pregnancy
Family lives offer a listening and supportive, non-judgemental service for parents. They have a lot of information on their website, including parenting advice videos and forums to chat to other families. Thy offer online parenting courses too for those wanting to be prepared for parenthood.
You can visit their website on www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline
Alternatively you can call their helpline on 0808 800 2222 for information, advice, guidance and support between 9am-9pm Monday to Friday or 10am-3pm at the weekend.
PREVENT is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism. It is one of 4 elements of CONTES, the Government's counter terrorism strategy, aiming to stop people from becoming involved in terrorism or supporting terrorism. The Home Office works with local authorities, Multi-Academy Trusts, and a wide range of government departments and community organisations to deliver the strategy.
Attached is a helpful guide for parents about Keeping Children and Young People Safe Against Radicalisation and Extremism
STOPTHETRAFFIK are part of the Oasis family, and are dedicated to the abolition of human traffiking, including sexual exploitation, somestic servitute, labour exploitation, force marriage, organ harvesting, forced criminality, drug trade and child soldiers. On their website are resources on spotting the signs of trafficking, ways to help or get involved in what they do and a safe place to share information on trafficking if you are worried about someone or at risk yourself.
Visit their site on www.stopthetraffik.org