On this page you will find a series of documents and links to helpful sites that cover the subjects of child welfare and safeguarding. You can read the School's Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy here.
Counselling
Centre 33 offers a range of support for young people (up to the age of 25) in Cambridgeshire. They can help with a range of issues from housing, to family problems and bullying, no matter how big or small the problem is. Centre 33 offers a drop-in service and free youth counselling services, with sessions available in Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire, East Cambridgeshire and Huntingdon.
They provide information and advice to young carers and their families, giving young carers a much-needed break from their caring role, supporting families in planning ahead and enabling young carers to have the same choices as other children and young people through the Carer Choices Fund.
https://centre33.org.uk/
hello@caringtogether.org
Ormiston Families take early and preventative action to support families to be safe, healthy and resilient; all their services help people to build stronger networks, learn from experience and feel in control of their own wellbeing.
The YMCA offers a variety of services, especially their Counselling Service, a free and confidential one to one counselling service for young people aged between 13 and 25 in Peterborough.
counselling@theymca.org.uk
https://www.ymca.org.uk/
https://www.ymca.org.uk/location/ymca-peterborough
Abuse & Neglect
Being the eyes and ears: The Children's Society can help you to spot signs of abuse and neglect during the COVID-19 lockdown.
BBC article 'How do you talk to your children about sexual abuse?'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38129733
The NSPCC 'Talk PANTS' initiative helps children to keep safe from sexual abuse:
www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rule/
Report Remove is a service supplied by Childline to help young people under the age of 18 in the UK to confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves and remove them from the internet.
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/report-remove/
e-Safety
CEOP has created a new website for 11- to 18-year-olds called ‘The Internet, Relationships & You’, which offers advice on online socialising and safety, getting support, and recognising sexual content online. CEOP is a part of the National Crime Agency.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/11_18
Childnet have released six new easy-to-follow videos for parents and children to work through together. The 10-15 minute videos offer simple, clear online safety advice using fun activities, games and discussion. There are optional follow-up activities to extend children's learning. The videos can be found here:
https://www.childnet.com/resources/video-lessons
Children's Commissioner - Talking to your child about online sexual harassment: A guide for parents
InternetMatters.org has joined with a number of prominent web providers to create a wealth of online resources for parents and schools. Below is just one example of what they can provide, although much more is available on their website:
Keeping Up with Your Child Online - Presentation
Keeping Up with Your Child Online - Slide Notes
From setting up parental controls, to advice on sexting, online games and video apps, the NSPCC can help you to understand the risks and keep your child safe:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
The Government recognises that many parents may feel concerned about the activities and content their children have accessed during the COVID-19 lockdown. Their guidance outlines resources to help keep children safe from different risks online and where to go to receive support and advice.
Safeguarding Adults from Online Abuse (Cambs & Peterborough)
Safeguarding Children from Online Abuse (Cambs & Peterborough)
Safeguarding for Community Volunteers Online (Cambs & Peterborough)
South West Grid for Learning is a not-for-profit charitable trust specialising in supporting schools, agencies and families to affect lasting change with the safe and secure use of technology with a wealth of resources.
https://swgfl.org.uk/resources/
Further advice and resources are available from the London Grid for Learning at https://parentsafe.lgfl.net/
Although it is published by Police Scotland, the document below contains some very useful information, especially for those young people in, or starting out in, further education.
Student Online Safety Guide 2023
Vodafone Digital Parenting wants everyone to get the most out of tech and enjoy happy and safe digital lives. With regularly updated articles and expert advice, you'll find plenty of resources and support, helping you make the right digital choices for your family.
Choosing the Right Online Tutor
Internet Safety Advice for Parents & Carers
TikTok - Common Sense Media's Ultimate Guide for Parents
TikTok App Safety - What Parents Need To Know (Internet Matters)
Use of TikTok - Parents' Guide (National Online Safety Poster)
Local Help
Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service have recently released new advice for owners of e-bikes and e-scooters on how to keep them safe. See the link below for details:
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child Programme has recently launched ChatHealth, a secure and confidential text messaging service for young people aged 11-19 across Peterborough who are struggling to cope with a wide range of health issues, such as bullying, emotional health, relationship problems, alcohol and drugs.
CHUMS Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People provides therapeutic support in a variety of ways. CHUMS has developed a unique service delivery model to ensure that children and young people are able to access a service that supports their individual needs.
https://chums.uk.com/cambs-pborough-services/
Embrace Counselling Centre offers a professional therapy service to individuals, couples and children in and around Peterborough, from only £10 per session.
https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/embrace-counselling-centre
Mental Health
Arts on Prescription is a series of friendly, weekly art workshops for people experiencing depression, stress or anxiety. Led by a professional artist and a qualified counsellor, they offer the chance to experience working with a wide range of materials and techniques, including drawing, printmaking and sculpture. Sessions last for two hours and are open to all abilities - no experience necessary.
https://artsandminds.org.uk/projects/arts-on-prescription/
The Charlie Waller Trust provides mental health training, resources and consultancy with a focus on children and young people.
Managing Stress & Anxiety Leaflet Download
Tips for Managing Stress & Anxiety Poster Download
Hey!Cambridge is a not-for-profit social enterprise providing early intervention support for children who are experiencing mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, phobia, attachment, adjustment, self-harm or eating difficulties. They bring together qualified and experienced Psychologists, Paediatricians, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to provide integrated assessment and support.
https://www.nascambridge.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hey-Cambridge-Leaflet.pdf
Growing up and moving into adulthood can be challenging. It can affect how you feel and have an impact on your well-being and mental health. Keep Your Head brings together good, reliable, up-to-date information on mental health and wellbeing for children and young people, parents/carers and professionals.
https://www.keep-your-head.com/cyp
Kooth provides free, safe and anonymous online help for young people.
Mental Health First Aid (England) offers expert guidance and training to support mental health, in the workplace and beyond.
Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem, and campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
NHS Choices has a hub of information on young people’s mental health which has information on when to seek support for low mood and information on specific topics such as self-harm and bipolar disorder.
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/your-choices-in-the-nhs/
The Reading Well for Children scheme was launched in Cambridgeshire, with a range of books that have been recommended by young people and health professionals about mental health available in public libraries. The books are aimed at 13- to 18-year-olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and difficult experiences like bullying and exams.
The Rethink Asian Mental Health Helpline is a free (from BT landlines) and confidential service specifically for Asian communities affected by mental illness, staffed by volunteers who speak a variety of Asian languages. Open 4pm-7pm Monday and Wednesday, and 12pm-3pm Tuesday and Thursday.
Telephone 0808 800 2073
Relationship & Sex Education
Dhiverse provide high quality sexual health and HIV support, education and information for all. They are inclusive, caring, non-judgmental and committed to upholding our organisation’s values. Through service user involvement, campaigns and collaboration they challenge stigma, prejudice and inequalities.
They also offer free sexual health counselling to children and young people aged 11 to 24 - see this poster for details.
Urgent Help
Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night, and can help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything; whether it’s something big or small, their trained counsellors are there to support you.
Telephone 0800 1111
The Samaritans are available, day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. They give people ways to cope and the skills to be there for others, and encourage, promote and celebrate those moments of connection between people that can save lives.
Telephone 116 123
STOP Suicide is an award-winning suicide prevention campaign which reaches across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It started life in 2014 as one of four different NHS England-funded pilot campaigns across the East of England and is now continuing via other funding streams.
https://www.stopsuicidepledge.org/
Young Minds Helpline offers free confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25.
Telephone 0808 802 5544
General Advice & Workshops
Advice to students for staying safe on public transport from Student HelpZone (Scotland):
Make Do and Mend provides workshops for people who experience mental distress. These workshops aim to promote recovery by developing self-esteem through developing skills. Workshops include areas such as candle making, guitar and cookery. There is a small membership fee to join Make Do and Mend.
Anti-Radicalisation
Children can be exposed to different views and receive information from various sources. Some of these views may be considered radical or extreme. NSPCC Learning shares best practice about recognising, responding to and preventing radicalisation and extremism.
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/radicalisation
Messages of hate can take many forms. Extremist groups use them to recruit young people. Parents can find answers to common questions and resources to help protect their children at Educate Against Hate.
Apps
The NHS Apps Library offers a list of Android and iPhone apps and online tools to help you manage your health and wellbeing.
Parenting
NSPCC Learning Research & Resources offers advice and guides for parents on a range of topics, including deciding when their children are ready to stay at home alone or go out by themselves.
Cambridgeshire Police Safer Schools Newsletters
Cambridgeshire Police Cyberland Initiative
The CyberSecurity officer for Cambridgeshire Police would like to make secondary schools aware of CyberLand, a learning opportunity created by the National Crime Agency and Cyber Challenge UK.
CyberLand is a series of 16 fun, interactive online games that help teachers and after-school club leaders introduce key concepts in cybersecurity. CyberLand is suitable for all ages and levels of technical ability (recommended ages 12-17 years).
By working their way through CyberLand’s immersive activities, physical games and practical challenges, students will:
- learn about key cyber concepts such as the use of firewalls, public Wi-Fi and phishing emails
- understand how to stay safe online
- discover some of the key roles in the cybersecurity industry and how different individuals work together to protect our systems from attack
- strengthen the skills they’ll need for a career in tech or information security
Any interested teacher and student can find out more here:
https://www.cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk/what-we-do/schools-programme/cyberland#
There are many other exciting opportunities for young people with an interest in computers. CyberFirst (11-17 years) has the government agency GCHQ behind it, and there are competitions supported and sponsored by international tech giants. For more information please visit:
