Below is a list of support services for safeguarding and wellbeing for you to explore which may help in supporting your child.
Night Owls
Phone: 0800 1488 244 or Text: 07984 376950
Leeds Survivor-Led Crisis Service
Phone: 0808 800 1212
Safe Zone - MindWell
Phone: 0113 819 8189 or 07593 529367
CAMHS Crisis Helpline
Phone: 0800 953 0505 (8am to 8pm)
Teen Connect
Phone: 0808 800 1212
***Please call the police or visit the accident and emergency department at your nearest hospital, if you feel that someone is at risk of serious harm and it is an emergency***
You can access a wealth of information on safeguarding for free via National Online Safety. Information is updated regularly and includes online safety, safeguarding and wellbeing.
To create an account visit the link below, complete your details and select "Parent/Carer" as your user type.
https://beta.nationalcollege.com/enrol/abbey-grange-church-of-england-academy
NSPCC provide a wide range of information on keeping your child safe at home, outside of the home and online, as well as information on children's mental health.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/
Follow the link for the family section of Leeds Safeguarding for information and advice which is presented in age order.
Hub of Hope is a website and app that lists all available mental health services in your area.
The UK Government website includes information on:
· Domestic abuse
· Sexual exploitation
· Criminal exploitation
· Radicalisation
· Online child safety
· Mental heath
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre enables adults and young people to make reports of actual or attempted online abuse.
https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/
Report Remove is a tool that allows young people to report an image or video shared online, to see if it’s possible to get it taken down. Provided by Childline and IWF, it keeps the young person informed at each stage of their report, and provides further support where necessary.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-reporting/report-remove/
For many of today’s young people there is no line between the online and offline worlds. Young people use the internet to socialise and grow and, just as you guide and support them offline, you should be there for them online too. Talk to them about what they’re doing, if they know you understand they are more likely to approach you if they need support.
Once you set up a log in you can freely access lots of up to date information on online safety and how to support your child. To create an account visit:
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/enrol/abbey-grange-church-of-england-academy
Simply complete your details and when you are set up you will be able to set “Parent/Carer” as your user type to assess information.
The Thinkuknow programme has films and advice for children from five all the way to 16. Your child may have seen these at school, but they can also be a good tool for you to find out more about what young people do online and some of the potential risks.
Keep up-to-date with your child’s development online. Be inquisitive and interested in the new gadgets and sites that your child is using. It’s important that as your child learns more, so do you.
Think about what they might see, what they share, who they talk to and how long they spend online. It is important to continue to discuss boundaries so that they evolve as your child’s use of technology does.
Nowadays even the TV connects to the internet. Your child will use all sorts of devices and gadgets; make sure you’re aware of which ones can connect to the internet, such as their phone or games console. Also, find out how they are accessing the internet – is it your connection or a neighbour’s Wifi? This will affect whether your safety settings are being applied.
Parental controls are not just about locking and blocking, they are a tool to help you set appropriate boundaries as your child grows and develops. They are not the answer to your child’s online safety, but they are a good start and are not as difficult to install as you might think. Service providers are working hard to make them simple, effective and user friendly. Find your service provider and learn how to set your controls.
Make sure your child knows never to meet up with someone they only know online. People might not always be who they say they are. Make sure your child understands that they should never meetup with anyone they only know online without taking a trusted adult with them.
Just as in the offline world, you want to help your child when they need it. Therefore, it is important to know when and how to report any problem.
