2013 Calendar
Useful contacts
Children’s Centres
Safety Net
Young Carers
01273 411613 www.safety-net.org.uk
01273 746222 www.thecarerscentre.org
Help with bullying prevention, family support, protective behaviours, training and home safety
Provides information, support and activities for young carers
AMAZE
North Portslade Children’s Centre
RISE
01273 772289 www.amazebrighton.org.uk
01273 294062 The Rise, Portslade BN41 2PY
01273 622822 www.riseuk.org.uk Supports women, children and young people affected by domestic violence
Mosaic 01273 234017 www.mosaicequalities.org.uk Aims to empower and support black, Asian and mixed parentage families to combat racism and promote positive cultural and racial identity
Oasis 01273 696970 www.oasisproject.org.uk Support to prevent drug and alcohol related harm to women and their families
Advice and support to parents of children with special needs and disabilities
Parents’ Forum 01273 294391 www.bhparentsforum.org Connecting parents of Brighton and Hove
ACAS (Advice, Contact & Assessment Service)
Conway Court Children’s Centre 012173 266011 Clarendon Road, Hove BN3 3WR
Moulsecoomb Children’s Centre 01273 294040 Hodshrove Lane, Moulsecoomb BN2 4SE
Roundabout Children’s Centre 01273 290300 Whitehawk Road, Brighton BN2 5FL
Tarner Children’s Centre
01273 295920
01273 296700
If you are worried about a child or young person’s safety
Ivory Place, Brighton BN2 9QE
Hollingdean Children’s Centre
Allsorts
01273 295623
01273 721211 www.allsortsyouth.org.uk
Family Information Service
Support for young people under 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or unsure
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
Brentwood Road, Brighton BN1 7DY
01273 293545 www.familyinfobrighton.org.uk
www.safety-net.org.uk
Our projects
Working with Communities to Keep Children Safe Safety Net is a local charity that works with communities to help keep children and young people safer at home, school and in their neighbourhoods. The theme of our calendar for this year is ‘Children’s Voices’, and explores the safety issues identified by children and young people who have taken part in consultation processes over the last 3 years. Too often younger children are not included when considering the voice of the child, which is why we have particularly focussed our work around 8 – 13 year olds, who have lots to say about safety issues that affect them and are committed to making a difference. We have been working with people from commissioners to neighbourhood meetings to make sure that their voices are heard. We hope you find the calendar useful, informative and inspiring! Terri Fletcher (Director) and Jean Spray (Chair)
Work Together to Stop Bullying Playground Buddies Scheme works with primary schools across Brighton and Hove providing training and support to children who help make playtimes safer for other children who might have been bullied, or are feeling left out of games or activities. SNAP (Safety Net Assertiveness Project) provides assertiveness training to children and young people aged 8-13 who have low confidence and self-esteem and may have experienced bullying either at school or in their communities. Shooting Stars - Building Confidence and Resilience has been a project to help children aged 8 – 11 to develop their confidence and aspirations.
Giving Children a Voice Participation Work Safety Net involves children through our Children’s Board and Forums, child-led projects and children helping other children at school and in their communities. Last year children designed their own web-site with tips, views and information on keeping safe – please visit www.safetynetkids. org.uk. The Safety Net Award Ceremony is our annual event where children from schools across the city meet to celebrate the work they have been doing to keep children safe in Brighton and Hove.
Protective Behaviours Safety Net uses the Protective Behaviours Safety Awareness Programme in our work with children, young people and families. Last year we worked with Children’s Centres to run groups for parents, called ‘Feeling Good, Feeling Safe’ which were commended by Ofsted. We have also been working with children’s social workers to see how they can use Protective Behaviours in their work with children and young people at risk and we are piloting work with children who have disabilities through a local Special School.
Preventing Accidents in the Home for 0 – 5’s Our Home Safety Equipment Scheme provides and fits home safety equipment to families living on a low income or whose children may be more at risk of accidents. The scheme works closely in partnership with Children’s Centres across the city. Our Home Safety Co-ordinator visits families at home and in community settings advising them about potential hazards to children in the home.
Our Projects Training to Keep Children, Young People and Families Safe We have over 16 years’ experience in running and developing Training Courses for workers and volunteers who support children and young people. We provide training in: Child Safety and Protection, Protective Behaviours, and Skills Development either as general courses or as tailor-made training for individual organisations.
Keeping Safe in the Community Safety Squads are children and young people aged 8-13 who are worried about safety in their community and want to do something about it. They consult other children and tell local adults how these issues affect them. Safety Squads have been successful in; getting equipment for their local parks, tackling graffiti, making school bus journeys safer and producing a personal safety booklet for children in their neighbourhood. Let’s Protect offers safeguarding support for community organisations working with children and young people across the city. It provides child protection training, signposting, help with policies and advice about Criminal Records Bureau checks through our disclosure service. We have also launched a quality assurance scheme for groups this year called Simple Quality Protects. The Director of Safety Net is the elected representative for the Community and Voluntary Sector Forum on the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.
Support for Families Our Families Team works with primary schools in East Brighton through the ’ Families Together Project ’ offering support to families with children aged 4 – 11. This includes; a home visiting service to help families going through a difficult patch; groups for parents like Triple P – the Positive Parenting Programme (where parents can get information, share ideas and support each other); as well as workshops and activities where children and parents do fun activities together and make new friends.
Quotes here??
‘Safety Rocks’ Listening to Children & Young People Safety Net’s vision is to create communities across Brighton, Hove and Sussex that work together to keep children safe. Our aim is to ensure that all children and young people are aware that they have the right to feel and be safe, and that they can get help when they need it.
It is a Child’s Right to be heard! The UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, Article 12 states; “It is a Human Right that children have a right to say what should happen”. In 2009 National Lottery funding was secured for a full time Participation Worker to give 8-13 year olds a voice on safety issues they feel are important to them. A panel of children were involved in the recruitment process for the 3 year project.
Consulting Children From 2009 – 2012 2480 children children were consulted across a wide section of the local community, through; local primary & secondary schools, youth groups and community projects, local events, Safety Net training sessions and child led participation groups such as Safety Squads where children work together on a community safety issue.
How were they consulted? In order to be inclusive a wide variety of consultation techniques and tools were used to ensure all children and young people felt able to express their own feelings, thoughts and ideas and be actively involved in leading on projects they felt were important to their safety. Consultations were not just about talking and writing and were often carried out quite subtly during another activity that was encouraging the confidence and skills needed to work as a team. These included; Comedy / Drama workshops, outdoor activities, food preparation, making movies, graffiti and art workshops, and music making projects.
What did they say? The children and young people identified a number of key safety risks and child led projects have come about as a way of addressing these including; safety on the buses, making parks safer, a song about bullying and a Children’s Board of Trustees The images in this calendar look at safety issues raised by 144 children aged 8-13 in 2012. They were asked “what bugs you?” The consultations were fun and involved art and craft activities and being filmed. The calendar is packed with views and advice written by children and young people. It is hoped that the calendar will prompt families to talk about children’s safety worries and what can be done to help them to feel and be safer.
our calendar gives some tips to stay safe‌
January 2013 Monday
To feel safe it is important that children feel heard
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It is our right to be heard
Adults should not patronise children or talk down to them www.safety-net.org.uk
Adults need to show they have listened by telling children what they have done afterwards
If it is about us our opinion counts
Children need to be given opportunities to talk about their feelings
Notes
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
stay safe
online
29% of children rated cyber bullying as one of their top 3 safety concerns
February 2013 Monday
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Don’t reply to any nasty messages you receive on your phone or via a social networking site or game console
Do show nasty messages to an adult you trust
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Notes
work together to keep kids safe in your area
Don’t reply to anyone you don’t know. Don’t arrange to meet up with anyone you’ve met on line. Speak to an adult you know and trust for advice. web link
www.safety-net.org.uk
29 Think carefully about what you will say before you post anything online. Remember that not everyone on line is who they say they are
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
stay safe
on the street
53% of children rated stranger danger as a top safety concern and 21% were worried about road safety.
March 2013 Monday
Tuesday
What is a stranger? Sometimes a ‘safe’ stranger might be able to help
Ask your school to book a personal safety session* with Safety Net today!
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Have a code word that only you and your child know, if someone picks them up from school ask for the code
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Saturday 2 Find ways to
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work together to keep kids safe in your area
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* After one session of personal safety training 87% of children felt they knew how to deal with key risks to their safety compared to only 66% before
www.safety-net.org.uk
Notes
Think about who you leave your children with
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
stay safe
out and about
April 2013 Monday
Seeing adults on the street who have been drinking or taking drugs was rated as the 2nd highest concern by 49% of children
Tuesday
When you are out and about be aware of what’s going on around you
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Stay with your friends and know who you could call for help
Remember the 3 W’s: does an adult know where you are, who you are with and when you will be back?
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If there is a safety issue in your community that worries you then why not work with Safety Net to do something about it?
Call us on 01273 411613
www.safety-net.org.uk
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
stay safe
on the bus
May 2013 Monday
One of the main concerns children have about going up to Secondary school is travelling on the bus without an adult
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Wednesday Notes Remember you have the 1 Get to know right to feel safe all the names of of the time, including children in your street on the bus 6 7 8
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Notes
Plan ahead. Go on the route with a
parent/carer before you do it the first time alone. www.safety-net.org.uk
things that children and young people do
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you could help a family in your neighbourhood
Meet friends before you get on the bus, and stay with them when you get on.
Go to our website for more staying safe tips
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
making safe
choices
Where is your safe place?
June 2013 Monday
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37% of children feel unsafe about being offered alcohol, drugs or cigarettes by their friends
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Stop. Think. Go!
is an easy technique you can use in tricky situations like these.
Thursday Stop.
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How do you feel? Are you feeling unsafe? Are you at risk?
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Think. What are your safest options? There are more choices than you think. www.safety-net.org.uk
Go! Choose your best option to stay safe
Notes
web link www.safetynetkids.org.uk
stay safe
in your
neighbourhood
July 2013
15% of children feel unsafe when they see damage in their community, broken glass, broken street lights and graffiti are all things that make children feel unsafe where they live.
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01273 411613 Get your families voice heard on community safety issues by contacting Safety Net www.safety-net.org.uk
Talk as a family over what are safe places in the community. Safe places are busy and well lit like shops or libraries. Talk to children about what makes them feel unsafe in their community
Make a difference, talk to your neighbours and other groups, there’s strength in numbers
Notes
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
stay safe
in the
park
August 2013 Monday
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Do you know someone who does illegal graffiti? Get them to think about the impact it has on others.
400 children voted on the play equipment needed to improve their park and how to get rid of graffiti
Wednesday Go to the park with an adult or people you know
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Swearing in parks makes children feel unsafe. Think about the language you use www.safety-net.org.uk
Older children need somewhere to go too
Notes
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
Check out the movie “Graffiti in our park makes us feel unsafe� by Bevendean Safety Squad at our website
stay safe
at
home
September 2013 Monday
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Your body is clever and can give you Early Warning Signs to let you know when you feel unsafe
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Be safe as a family, talk together, listen to children and teach them some safety skills
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Some of our Early Warning Signs are; wobbly legs, butterflies in our tummy and our heart thumping
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If you get your early warning signs find a safe place and tell an adult
Saturday Think of a good time to talk when they are not busy so that they can give you proper attention
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Let your children know you are always there to listen to them www.safety-net.org.uk
Notes
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
stay safe
at
night
October 2013 Monday
24% of children said being robbed was a top safety concern
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Be aware of your surroundings
Hoods down. Headphones out of ears. Phones in pockets. www.safety-net.org.uk
Listen to your early warning signs
Always give away your bag, purse or phone rather than fighting. Your things can be replaced – you can’t!
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www.safetynetkids.org.uk
be Bullyproof stay safe:
November 2013 Monday
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SNAP Kids have made a song called BullyProof. Here are some of the tips in our lyrics:
49% of children worried about bullying at school, on the school bus and in the community as a top safety concern
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Remain cool and be calm, it works like a charm
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Friday Stand tall and be 1 strong, it won’t last long
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work together to keep kids safe in your area
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Remember Safety Net can help your school feel safer by training children as Playground Buddies & help you stand up to bullies in a positive way. Book on a SNAP training course today!
www.safety-net.org.uk
Notes
web link
If you are being bullied it isn’t your fault. Talk to a
trusted adult at home or at school.
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
December 2013 Monday
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Remember:
everyone has the right to feel safe all of the time
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Help children to help themselves keep safe Thursday
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Children have a right to be heard
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You can talk toFind someone ways to to about anything,work notogether matter keep kids safe in how big or smallyour area
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Know your safe places at home, school and in your community www.safety-net.org.uk
Choose up to 5 adults who you trust and can talk to if you have any worries
Notes
www.safetynetkids.org.uk
Mean score before
Mean score after
Percentage of children who reported positive scores
Percentage of children who reported positive scores
Before
After
6.2
7.1
76.2%
82.3%
6.1
7.5
69.6%
84.6%
6.0 7.3
67.4%
73.4%
5.6
7.2
74.0%
84.5%
6.1
7.1
69.6%
82.4%
6.3
7.2
80.6%
84.5%
‘I feel safe at my school.’
5.4 6.3
60.0%
69.1%
‘I am aware of key risks to my safety.’
6.6
7.1
82.8%
84.6%
6.1
7.8
69.6%
86.7%
‘I can recognise when I feel unsafe.’ ‘I have a range of skills that help me to make safe choices.’ There are adults I can talk to who will really listen to me.’ ‘My opinions matter and I can make a difference.’ ‘I am good at setting goals and working towards them.’ ‘I have different ways to help myself in difficult situations.’
‘I know how to deal with the key risks to my safety.’
Results of the Participation Project For the children involved The skills and confidence which children gained from being involved in a participation project with Safety Net has been proven as statistically significant. The 144 children who have contributed to this calendar were surveyed before and after the personal safety training and consultation. This chart demonstrates positive changes in skills to manage personal safety and risk in their communities.
Top 5 Tips from the Participation Worker Hi! It has been a brilliant and busy 3 years on this project. I am very passionate about enabling children and young people to have a voice and know many other professionals are too!
What Next?.... For Safety Net Safety Net continues to develop with more and more children and young people influencing the organisation as a whole. Polices are being written and adapted to ensure they are child friendly and accessible. There is now an established Safety Net Kid’s Board who communicate directly with managers and Trustees. For Communities Children and Young People are now trained as trainers to deliver to children and young people on a number of topics from assertiveness techniques to the importance of children’s voices being heard. Children and Young People have been supported to raise their safety concerns through a variety of ways and work together to combat safety issues as well as being given opportunities to be heard by stakeholders, service providers, funders and M.Ps who are in a position to help and respond positively and proactively to their views. We are working with Local Action Teams to see how they are involving children and young people in community issues and what we can do to support them.
Here are my top tips in creating safe opportunities for this to happen; 1. Where are you now with Children and Young People participation? Evaluate what you do and how you do it. A good resource to look at is Roger Hart’s Participation Ladder. Take a look and honestly evaluate where your organisation is currently. 2. Don’t forget the under 13s! All too often this age range slips through the net yet primary school children have valid and strong views and opinions too. 3. When consulting think about where you will be doing this? Is the space child friendly and comfortable? Children aren’t used to working in an office, so is there somewhere else it can be delivered? Do you have friendly images and posters? 4. Be aware of different personalities. Think of ways that can include children who may be shy or less able to articulate their views. Could these children be involved in other ways like holding the video camera and directing or by doing something on a PC?
To see the children’s work and participation project successes mentioned throughout the calendar please refer to; www.safetynetkids.org.uk , a website created by children for children packed with tips, movies and activities.
5. Make sure you report back to Children and Young People any follow up taken (or not!) so that they feel taking part hasn’t been a waste of their time.
For Professionals
And remember have fun! If you are having a good time and are relaxed it normally follows the children will too. Happy consulting!
Children’s voices now feature in many training sessions provided by Safety Net through movie clips and children co-deliver Participation focused training with Emma the Participation Worker. To find out more please go to Safety Net’s adult website www.safety-net.org.uk. Here is a message from Emma to all those who may be considering involving children and young people more in their organisation’s activities.
Emma
message in here?
Safety Net Manor Offices, Emmaus, Drove Road, Portslade BN41 2PA 01273 411613 info@safety-net.org.uk
www.safety-net.org.uk www.safetynetkids.org.uk Charity registration number 1108772 Company Registration 05319388 Design + communications: SImon Bottrell at 7creative