Alex Gray’s Post

Fantastic, moving performance today of Highland Cathedral at the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament, by the amazing Sistema Scotland, a programme tackling long-term inequalities and strengthening community cohesion in some of Scotland's most disadvantaged areas through music 💙 so lovely to see the diversity of modern Scotland #scotland #scottishparliament #music #scottish #royalvisit #25years #charity #community #inequality #poverty #disadvantage #everychildhood

A shocking story in The Guardian highlighting that over 1,500 child trafficking victims in the UK are feared to have fallen back into the hands of their exploiters, with the National Referral Mechanism not sufficiently protecting the child victims, with Many child victims are left waiting for years for legal advice and mental health services, increasing their risk of re-trafficking. Completely agree with Children's Commissioner for England and it’s crucial that these vulnerable children receive the swift, comprehensive support they need to prevent further exploitation and trauma. The government must prioritize their protection and wellbeing #childprotection #safeguarding #theguardian #news #article #trafficking #children #youngpeople #exploitation #nrm #legal #advice #mentalhealth #abuse #support #help #government #politicsuk #politics #labour #everychildhood

Brilliant to read about the ground-breaking chatbot that has been developed by the fantastic Lucy Faithfull Foundation foundation, which aims to deter and redirect individuals searching for sexual images of children. A massive congratulations to the team there on the first-of-its-kind tool which has significantly reduced illegal search attempts, guiding users to the @Stop It Now helpline and online resources. This proactive approach is really crucial in safeguarding children in the online world. #onlinesafety #csa #abuse #trauma #offending #support #help #tech #chatbot #onlineworld #internet #children #youngpeople #stopitnow #charity #everychildhood

Instagram’s introduction of “Teen Accounts” for users aged 13-15 is a step towards enhancing online safety, but I think it comes with a significant flaw: self-identification of age. The effectiveness of these protections hinges on users being honest about their age and this reliance can undermine the effectiveness of the safety measures. While the update aims to limit sensitive content, enforce private accounts by default, and enable greater parental supervision, the reliance on self-reported age data could completely compromise these efforts. It’s crucial for social media platforms to find more reliable ways to verify age to truly safeguard children and young people. #onlinesafety #abuse #harmfulcontent #meta Meta #instagram #facebook Instagram #childprotection #safeguarding #tech #onlinesafetyact #ageverification #teenaccounts #children #youngpeople #onlineharms #regulation #ofcom #everychildhood

It’s so concerning that 40% of all referrals to local services like the police and children’s social care from our NSPCC Helpline were for children aged 5 and under facing abuse and neglect. These are very young lives are at risk, with over 5,000 children referred last year because their basic needs weren’t met. Physical abuse is another very serious concern, with 2,344 referrals for children facing violence. Shockingly, nearly 200 children aged 5 and under died or were seriously harmed in England last year. We've got to ensure that early years services are well-resourced to protect these really vulnerable children. Every family deserves access to quality support. The Government must prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our children and young people. If you have any concerns about a child, even if you're not sure, trust your instincts and contact the NSPCC Helpline. You don't have to tell us who you are, where you live, or share your contact details. #nspcc #helpline #abuse #neglect #children #youngpeople #families #babies #childprotection #safeguarding #help #support #referrals #police #socialwork #socialservices #welfare #protection #government #labour #kierstarmer #politics #politicsuk #parliament #everychildhood

The latest statistical bulletin from the Department of Health NI provides an in-depth look at the status of children and young people who have been in care for over 12 months as of September 2023. It shows some of the very familiar ongoing challenges and needs of children in care... Educational Challenges: Many children in care face significant educational hurdles. The report highlights that a large proportion of these children underperform academically compared to their peers, with a notable number having special educational needs. Health & Wellbeing: The bulletin sheds light on the health status of these children, including details on health assessments, disabilities, and mental health issues. Ensuring regular health check-ups and addressing any medical needs is crucial for their overall wellbeing. Placement Stability: Stability in placements is a critical factor for the wellbeing of children in care. The report provides insights into the number of placement changes experienced by these children, emphasizing the importance of stable and supportive environments. These are the areas where support and resources are badly needed to be focused. #care #socialwork #research #northernireland #ni #children #youngpeople #education #health #socialservices #childprotection #safeguarding #wellbeing #outcomes #support #help #everychildhood

At NSPCC, we believe every child deserves to feel safe and heard. Our Speak Out Stay Safe programme is designed to equip children with the knowledge and confidence to speak out about any worries or concerns they may have. The programme is delivered by specially trained NSPCC volunteers and staff in primary schools across the UK. Through engaging assemblies and workshops, we teach children about the different forms of abuse and how to seek help from trusted adults. #nspcc #childline #nspcclearning #speakoutstaysafe #safe #heard #children #youngpeople #safeguarding #support #advice #childprotection #education #teaching #reseouce #school #everychildhood

What a heart-breaking story from BBC News sharing the experiences of children in care in Wales who are forced to move their belongings in bin bags. This is not treating vulnerable children with the respect and care they deserve. It's great to read about the work that NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) and Madlug™ are doing to stop this trauma and dehumanization of children. Local authorities need to do more, and pledge against using bin bags for children’s belongings, emphasizing dignity and respect. #care #wales #welshgovernment #bbcnews #article #children #youngpeople #vulnerable #respect #nyas #madlug Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru | Welsh Local Government Association #socialenterprise #advocacy #socialwork #localauthority #pledge #bingbags #scandal #everychildhood

Growing up can be overwhelming for children and young people, with pressures to fit in, excel at school, and discover their identity, amongst many, many other things. As professionals it's crucial for us to recognize the signs of suicidal thoughts and provide the right support. Read the latest blog from NSPCC Learning in the Why Language Matters series this morning with some great advice around using language that reduces stigma and encourages openness, avoiding euphemisms and emotive language that can dismiss the seriousness of suicidal thoughts, taking children seriously, listening without assumption and validating their feelings, and speaking openly and non-judgementally to create a safe, considerate environment for discussing suicide. #nspcc #childline #suicide #support #help #language #whylanguagematters #blog #learning #training #practice #cpd #counselling #socialwork #childprotection #safeguarding #children #youngpeople #everychildhood

Let's talk PANTS!!! NSPCC Learning, with the PSHE Association, has refreshed our Talk PANTS resources for nurseries and primary schools to help keep children safe from sexual abuse, including a new presentation of the Underwear Rule tailored for children aged 3 to 5. #nspcc #nspcclearning #pants #resources #talkpants #sexualabuse #education #teaching #schools #primary #nursery #protect #presentation #children #youngpeople #underwearrule #pshe #cpd #everychildhood