Date: 4th-9th May Promotes the positive aspects of deafness’, social inclusion and general awareness raising. For more information please see the links below. www.deafcouncil.org.uk www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk
National day for Staff Networks
Date: 11th May Recognising the added value of staff network groups. The day aims to raise awareness of the support and influence staff networks provide to employees.
International Day of Families
Date: 15th May Provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting them.
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia
Date: 17th May Provides a platform for everyone to make a powerful statement to demand improvements for the quality of life for LGBT people. www.idaho.org.uk
The Foster Care Fortnight Campaign
Date: 10th-23rd May Showcases the commitment, passion, and dedication of foster carers. It also supports fostering services to highlight the need for more foster carers. www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk
Mental Health Awareness week
Date: 9th-15th May Mental Health Awareness Week is open to everyone. It is all about starting conversations about mental health and the things in our lives that can affect it. www.mentalhealth.org.uk
“Just because you are struggling doesn’t mean your falling” – Nelson Mandela
Special Days
2nd May
May Day (Bank Holiday)
Ramadan Ends (dependant on sighting of new moon) – (Islam)
3rd May
Eid ul Fitr* – (Islamic holiday)
4th-9th May
Deaf Awareness Week
5th-6th May
Yom Ha-Atzmaut – (Jewish Holiday)
9th-15th May
Mental Health Awareness Week
10th-23rd May
Foster Care Fortnight
11th May
National Day for Staff Networks
15th May
International Day for Staff Networks
National Children’s Day
16th May
Buddha Day (Wesak) – (Buddhist)
17th May
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia
During Stress Awareness Month, people across the country will join forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.
World Autism Awareness Week
Date: 28th March-3rd April
World Autism Week is filled with autism friendly events and educational activities to increase understanding and acceptance, and to foster worldwide support. www.autism.org.uk
“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress to a positive one” – Hans Selye
Special Days
2nd April
Hindi New Year – (Hindi)
3rd April
Ramayana begins – (Hindi)
Ramadan Start – (Islam)
Passion Sunday – (Christian)
7th April
World Health Day
10th April
Palm Sunday – (Christian)
Rama Navami – (Hindu)
14th April
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) – (Sikh)
Maundy Thursday – (Christian)
15th April
Good Friday (Bank Holiday) – (Christian)
15th-23rd April
Passover – (Jewish)
17th April
Easter Sunday – (Christian)
18th April
Easter Monday (Bank Holiday) – (Christian)
Birthday of Guru Angad Dev – (Sikh)
22nd April
Good Friday – (Orthodox Christian)
Stephen Lawrence Day
23rd April
St. George’s Day – (Christian)
Shakespeare Day
24th April
Pascha – (Orthodox Christian) – Easter
29th April
Laylat al Qadr (Night of Power) – (Islamic observation)
Early on the morning of the 24th February 2022 in Ukraine, Russian troops poured over the border, and Russian planes and missile launchers attacked Ukrainian cities and airports. Amid the shock and horror, the attacks spanned much of the country, far beyond the border provinces where there has been sporadic fighting between both countries for years.
Ukraine’s government called it “a full-scale attack from multiple directions. It has triggered Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World Ward II, with more than 3.8 million Ukrainians fleeing the country. The devastating invasion has marked a major escalation of the on-going Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which first began in 2014.
The invasion has been widely condemned internationally, with many countries around the world including the UK imposing sanctions on Russia, which has hugely affected the economy of Russia and the rest of the world. Numerous companies have withdrawn their products and services from Russia and Belarus, and the invasion has been heavily broadcasted through the media and other online platforms as a catastrophic war crime on Ukraine worldwide.
The Russian leader Putin’s, initial aim was to overrun Ukraine and depose of its government, ending its desire to join the Western defensive alliance, NATO.
The ongoing military Russian attacks on Ukraine has disastrously grown to children’s homes, Schools, orphanages, and Hospitals affecting the most sick and vulnerable, and as of the 22nd March 2022 there was 2,571 recorded civilian casualties in the country, 977 of those killed and 1,594 badly injured. Sadly, millions of people have no safe place to call home, and hundreds of thousands of Ukraine people are trapped underground, have no heat or electricity.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people of Ukraine and the country and would like to support and help this crisis as much as we can.
You can donate to the International Red Cross, which will provide humanitarian relief to Ukrainians affected by the conflict. The aim is to provide food, water, a safe shelter, protection, hygiene kits & physiological support, especially to Ukraine women and children. Red Cross have distributed over 90,000 food, clothes & aid parcels, and set up metro shelter stations in Kyiv helping over 7,000 civilians.
‘Ukraine Take Shelter’ is a website that connects Ukrainian refuges with potential hosts of support and housing. The website was launched in March 2022 by two Harvard students, as a way to offer emergency help and to connect people to safe places in crisis as quickly as possible.
Did you know that ‘National Stress Awareness Month’ is coming up in April?
Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.
The last two years have been the most challenging we have faced and in 2020 services were overwhelmed by people that are struggling and seeking support. This year the Stress Management Society’s theme is Community. They have chosen this theme because lack of support can cause loneliness and isolation, which in turn lowers people’s wellbeing, impacts mental health and can lead to mental illness.
The Stress Management Society has identified a number of ways that you can help to reduce stress, which include:
Adopt a positive mindset
Being in control of your thoughts increases your ability to find solutions to challenging situations and to deal more effectively with stress. Master your mind and you will never wonder how to deal with stress again.
The SMS have put together a helpful checklist for you to assess your mindset. Simply answer the questions below to get a picture of your wellbeing.
Do you often find yourself worrying about all that could go wrong?
Do you consider yourself a glass-half-empty kind of person?
Do little things often cause exaggerated emotional reactions?
When stressed do you feel confused?
Do you find constant mind chatter distracts you?
Have you ever become forgetful or suffered from a mental block when stressed?
Do you control your mind or does it control you?
If you answered yes to all or most of these questions, you could do with some help resetting your mindset.
Get a good night’s sleep
A good night’s sleep is incredibly important for your health. Anyone who has had a good night’s sleep know the feeling of waking up well rested and feeling on top of the world. Sleep is just as important as eating healthy and exercising for your overall wellbeing as sleep is nature’s healer.
Here are 5 ways that sleep will improve your health:
You will be ill less frequently
Even a small loss of sleep has been shown to impair immune function and your ability to fight off infection. Study after study shows that if you skimp on sleep, you are likely to get ill. The more sleep you get the more you create the optimum environment for your natural defences to work well.
You will be more relaxed
You will be able to cope better with the pressures of the day if you get enough sleep. You will help yourself avoid building up high libels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline – then they are present you are unlikely to get a good quality deep sleep.
You will be able to maintain your weight
Poor sleep is strongly linked to weight gain. Your body needs sleep to normalise weight-control hormones. In fact, short sleep duration is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity.
You will improve your memory
Deep sleep dramatically improves how your brain works. It affects how nerve cells in the brain connect, governing everything from how the brain controls behaviour to the ability to learn or remember.
You will be at greater risk of heart disease or stroke
It’s known that sleep quality and duration can have a major effect on many health risk factors. These are the factors believed to drive chronic diseases, including heart disease. A review of 15 studies found that people who don’t get enough sleep are at far greater risk of heart disease or stroke than those who sleep 7–8 hours per night.
Get moving to combat stress
When your body goes into a state of stress, it is expecting some kind of physical activity. One way to take control of stress is to give your body what it was anticipating i.e. physical activity.
Have you ever engaged in exercise after a stressful day? Ask yourself how did you feel once you had finished?
The SMS have put together a helpful checklist for you to assess your exercise levels. Simply answer the questions below to get a picture of your whether you are doing enough exercise to combat stress.
Do you get out of breath climbing the stairs?
Do you NOT exercise to the point of perspiration at least three times a week?
When you bend down then stand up, do you feel light-headed or see spots?
Do you feel that exercise takes more from you than it gives you?
Do you feel exhausted after exercise instead of exhilarated?
If you answered yes to most or all of those questions, you need some help. Click here to explore many practical suggestions on improving your fitness and getting enough exercise to build your resilience to stress:
It can be hard to constantly think about prioritising your health. Life is busy and most people have lots to juggle with work and home life. In order to prioritise your health, consistently and longer term it is critical to make a plan and hold yourself accountable.
Here are five simple steps for accomplishing this:
Don’t try to change everything at once
It is completely unrealistic to change everything at one time. Sometimes the more we try to do, the less able we are to make any of these changes, and everything suffers. Pick one thing that is your priority and stick to it. If you are struggling to pick something make a list of everything you want to change. Think about how each item on the list affects the other, and which makes the most sense to start with. Once you have chosen set a tangible and achievable goal you know you can attain and look at this commitment each and every day.
Change your environment
Depending on the goal you set this will mean different things. In order to achieve the goal it is highly likely that you will need to change something in your environment to help you achieve this. For example if your goals is weight loss, why not go through your cupboards and remove the unhealthy foods.
Small changes add up
It doesn’t always have to be huge changes that you make, small things really do add up. It could be as simple as taking the stairs rather than the lift at work. Parking further away at the supermarket. Drinking more water rather than tea, coffee or fizzy drinks.
If you lapse, get right back on the wagon
We are all only human. There will be times when we make poor choices and we do things that we know are not good for our health. Put that out of your mind and get back on track as soon as possible. You don’t need to overcompensate to try to undo what has already been done. This only makes getting back on track harder.
Make time for your new habits
Ensuring you follow through and are committed to make long term change takes time. You are changing behaviours that you have had for years so it will take time and dedication to stay on track. Take time out every morning to note all the positive behaviours you are committing to for the day. Maybe it’s wake up earlier to work out, or make a healthy breakfast or walk a mile during your lunch break. If you do this every day your thoughts will be come your actions, and your actions will become your habits.
The Stress Management Society are encouraging a 30 Day Challenge for April where you pick one action each for your Physical, Mental and Emotional Wellbeing to carry out every day.
It takes 30 days to turn actions into habits, which is why this is a month-long programme. The 30-day challenge will maximise your chances of turning useful knowledge and techniques into positive behavioural change.
Click below to gain the access to their free resources specifically created for the month of April. You can download the 30 Day Challenge, a Daily De-Stressing Planner, a Stress Guide, 7 Steps Achievement Plan, useful infographics on stress and much more!
What else could you do for Stress Awareness Month?
Talk about stress and its effects – work together to reduce the stigma that is associated with stress by talking about the topic openly and freely with friends, family and colleagues.
Share your coping mechanisms – if something has worked for you why not share it. It might benefit someone you care about and in the meantime, it might help you take your focus off your own challenges.
Be nice to those who are stressed and anxious – we are all undoubtedly going to experience stress and anxiety in our lifetime so treat others going through it with compassion and empathy.
Look after yourself – we all need to think more about self–care. Take time out of your day to relax or do something that you enjoy. Don’t forget to exercise and eat well, even when you feel too stressed.
The most crucial thing you can do when you are stressed or anxious is to make sure you are continuing to look after yourself. Make time to relax when you need to and learn to say no to requests that are too much for you.
International Trans Day of Visibility – 31st March 2022
What is Trans Day of Visibility?
TDOV takes place on March 31st each year to celebrate trans and non-binary people and raise awareness of discrimination faced by trans people worldwide.
Increasing media backlash towards trans people has begun in the wake of the NHS GIC consultation in 2017 and the upcoming consultation on the reformation of the Gender Recognition Act expected in Spring 2018.
At LGBT Foundation, they are aware that there is a lot of pressure on trans and non-binary people to conform, change and prove their gender to others. They believe that all trans people, regardless of identity, expression, or orientation, are enough just as they are. Therefore, for TDoV they would like to help empower trans people to celebrate who they are, and encourage allies to voice solidarity with the trans community.
The ‘I am Enough’ campaign aims are as follows:
Affirmation and Empowerment – For trans people, a message of strength, resilience and community. The aim of the campaign is to provide a message that ties together the following themes:
Acceptance of individuals in their chosen gender, just the way they are without the need for change/treatment/qualifying factors.
Promotion of self-deceleration of gender Identity
Visibility of non-binary identities.
Awareness Raising and Allyship – For non-trans/cis people to be able to stand up and show solidarity and support for their trans family, friends and colleagues.
LBGT Foundation are there to offer support and advice on a range of topics. Their service is non-judgement, and they are there to talk through whatever is on your mind:
Struggling with your mental health?
Feeling lonely or isolated?
Thinking about coming out?
Questioning your gender identity?
Want some information about sexual health or where to find sexual health testing?
Being harassed at work because of your sexual orientation or gender identity?
Need to report a hate crime?
Want to know about our services or what support is available in your local area?
LGBT Foundation understand how anxious you might feel reaching out for support. When you call, you will find someone on the other end of the line with a friendly voice and a listening ear.
Internet users are one step closer to a safer online environment as the UK government’s new world-leading online safety laws were brought before parliament on 17/03/22.
The Online Safety Bill marks a milestone in the fight for a new digital age which is safer for users and holds tech giants to account. It will protect children from harmful content such as pornography and limit people’s exposure to illegal content, while protecting freedom of speech.
It will require social media platforms, search engines and other apps and websites allowing people to post their own content to protect children, tackle illegal activity and uphold their stated terms and conditions.
The regulator Ofcom will have the power to fine companies failing to comply with the laws up to ten per cent of their annual global turnover, force them to improve their practices and block non-compliant sites.
Once the bill has been debated and then approved by each House of Parliament, and has received Royal Assent, it will then become law.
The UK’s National Counter Terrorism Police have recently revamped and relaunched their Protect UK app, the counter terrorism and security information sharing platform. The app gives a useful overview of counter terrorism guidance, including details on the current national threat level, incident response action cards, how to report incidents, plus news and updates from the NCTP.
The app is free to download and available from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and you don’t require an account to use it.
Supporting young people with SEND on line
The internet can be a great place, but we need to be aware of the risks involved with being online. For children with SEND, they may encounter further challenges and therefore additional support may be required.
There is a lot of tailored information available to parents and carers and the following links are a great starting point:
The above sites cover topics such as helping children browse safely online, setting appropriate parental controls, activities to help discussions about being online and the steps which can take to help protect children online.
Safeguarding Soundbite – Young Carers, Child Sexual Exploitation and Safeguarding News
To marked CSE Awareness Day which was on Friday 18th March 2022
We all have a role to play in raising awareness about all forms of exploitation to enable safeguarding professionals, the public, parents and carers, as well as the children and young people in our lives, to recognise the signs of exploitation.
Child Q who was strip searched by two female Metropolitan Police Officers in a school, even whilst being on her period. The review report by City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership makes dreadful reading. There are a number of shocking aspects to the case, not least that no-one from the police or the school spoke to a parent. Child Q was so distressed about what had happened that her mother took her to the GP, and it was the GP that contacted Children’s Services.
Strip search of Child Q should never have happened
The review report is ‘clear that the strip search of Child Q should never have happened and there was no reasonable justification for it.’ The report found that the school was fully compliant with expected practice standards when responding to its concerns about Child Q smelling of cannabis and its subsequent search of Child Q’s coat, bag, scarf and shoes. ‘This demonstrated good curiosity by involved staff and an alertness to potential indicators of risk.’
School staff ‘deferred to the authority of the police’
The review found that the school staff ‘deferred to the authority of the police on their arrival at school. They should have been more challenging to the police, seeking clarity about the actions they intended to take. All practitioners need to be mindful of their duties to uphold the best interests of children.’
One member of staff from the school concerned to the review, ‘In hindsight I put my trust in the law; I know now that I need to understand the law better… For example, insisting on staying with a student at all times.’
Appropriate Adult
Appropriate Adults are there ‘to safeguard the interests, rights, entitlements and welfare of children and vulnerable people who are suspected of a criminal offence, by ensuring that they are treated in a fair and just manner and are able to participate effectively.’ Appropriate Adults are not merely passive observers, they are ‘expected to be an active participant. In order to be effective, they need to be assertive and speak up.’
Racism
The review evaluated the actions of professionals involved on the day of the strip search in the context of Child Q’s ethnicity and whether she was treated differently because she is Black. The report concluded: ‘the disproportionate decision to strip search Child Q is unlikely to have been disconnected from her ethnicity and her background as a child growing up on an estate in Hackney.’ As complex as racism is, one significant feature here is ‘adultification bias’ – where children from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities are perceived as being more ‘streetwise’, more ‘grown up’, less innocent and less vulnerable than other children. This particularly affects Black children, who might be viewed primarily as a threat rather than as a child who needs support’.
Sexual harassment at work is something that can happen to anyone regardless of their background or identity
According to a 2019 survey38% of women and 14% of men report having experienced some form of sexual harassment at work
Click here to read. If you have concerns for yourself or someone else in relation to any form of harassment or bullying, including on-line , please speak to your line manager or contact JTM’s Safeguarding Lead: gina.stephens@jarvis-eu.com or JTM’s Pastoral Support: janine.ridley@jarvis-eu.com
The day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and puts the spotlight on the global action needed to accelerate gender parity.
A day to celebrate good access and create opportunities for people to try something new. The day is about highlighting the fantastic access that already exists in places too.
This year’s Young Carers Action Day (YCAD) will focus on young carers’ futures. Young carers will showcase the incredible skills they develop from caring – like resilience, time-management and empathy, and they will use the #YCAD platform to call on employers and potential and realise their dreams.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which recognised happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and called for members to promote happiness and well-being.
Celebrated annually on 31st March and is traditionally a time to celebrate transgender people around the world and the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also raising awareness about the discrimination trans people continue to face today.
“We cannot all succeed when half of us held back” – Malala Yousafzai
Special Days
1st March
Zero Discrimination Day
Shrove Tuesday – (Christian)
Saint David’s Day – (Christian)
Maha Shivaratri – (Hinduism)
Night of Miraaj – (Islam)
1st-7th March
LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week
2nd March
Ash Wednesday (lent begins) – (Christian)
7th March
Great Lent begins – (Orthodox Christian)
8th March
International Women’s Day
16th March
Ta’anit Esther (The Fast of Esther) – (Jewish Observance)
Young Carers Action Day
Disabled Access Day Disabled Access Day
16th-17th March
Purim* – (Jewish Holiday)
17th March
Saint Patricks Day – (Christian)
18th March
Holi – (Hindi)
18th-19th March
Lailat al Bara’ah* – (Islam)
19th March
Saint Joseph’s Day – (Christian)
20th March
International Day of Happiness
Spring Equinox (Season)
21st March
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
22nd March
World Water Day
25th March
The Annunciation of the Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary – (Christian)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that you experience during particular seasons or times of year. Depression is a low mood that lasts for a long time, and affects your everyday life.
If you have SAD, you’ll experience depression during some seasons in particular, or because of certain types of weather.
It’s common to be affected by changing seasons and weather, or to have times of year when you feel more or less comfortable. For example, you might find that your mood or energy levels drop when it gets colder or warmer, or notice changes in your sleeping or eating patterns.
But if your feelings are interfering with your day to day life, it could be a sign that you have depression – and if they keep coming back at the same time of year, doctors might call this seasonal affective disorder or ‘seasonal depression’.
What are the symptoms of SAD?
If you have SAD, you might experience some of the signs and symptoms below. But it’s different for different people, and can vary season to season, so you might also have other kinds of feelings which aren’t listed here:
lack of energy
finding it hard to concentrate
not wanting to see people
sleep problems, such as sleeping more or less than usual, difficulty waking up, or difficulty falling or staying asleep
feeling sad, low, tearful, guilty or hopeless
changes in your appetite, for example feeling more hungry or wanting more snacks
being more prone to physical health problems, such as colds, infections or other illnesses
If you also have other mental health problems, you might find that things get worse at times when you’re affected by SAD.
How can I access treatment?
The first step is usually to visit your GP. If you’re given a diagnosis of SAD, this will be based on whether your symptoms repeatedly follow a seasonal pattern, usually for two or more years – it doesn’t depend on the specific season or time of year when you’re affected.
Treatments such as talking therapies, medication, light therapy and other treatments can help SAD.
Talking therapies:
There are many different talking therapies that can be effective in treating depression. Mind pages on treatment for depression and talking therapy and counselling have more information on these treatments, and information on how to access them – including through the NHS, charities or privately.
Some people say they find it helpful to use a light box – a device that gives off strong white or blue light – or a lamp, or an alarm clock that simulates dawn. This is sometimes called light therapy.
The NHS doesn’t provide light therapy because there is currently insufficient evidence to show it works, although some people find it helpful. More research needs to be done to establish whether it is effective and why some people find it helpful and others don’t.
Light therapy might not be suitable for you if you’re also taking St John’s wort, as St John’s wort can make your skin more sensitive to light.
If you decide to try using a light box or lamp, you may wish to discuss this with your doctor who can advise on whether it’s suitable for you to try. If you have existing eye problems or you use a light box regularly, it’s also advisable to talk to an optician and to have regular eye check-ups.
Other treatments:
You might also decide to try other treatments alongside, or instead of, talking therapies or medication. These might include:
An eating disorder is a mental health condition where you use the control of food to cope with feelings and other situations.
Unhealthy eating behaviours may include eating too much or too little, or worrying about your weight or body shape. Anyone can get an eating disorder, but children and young people between 13 and 17 are mostly affected. With treatment, most people can recover from an eating disorder.
Types of eating disorders:
The most common eating disorders are:
Anorexia nervosa – trying to control your weight by not eating enough food, exercising too much, or doing both to an extreme.
Bulimia – losing control over how much you eat and then taking drastic action by self-inflicted vomiting to not put on weight.
Binge eating disorder (BED) – eating large portions of food until you feel uncomfortably full, with often recurrent episodes and until in a lot of discomfort which can be life threatening.
Symptoms of an eating disorder can include:
Spending a lot of time worrying about your weight and body shape
Avoiding socialising when you think food will be involved
Eating very little food
Making yourself sick or taking laxatives after you eat
Exercising too much
Having very strict habits or routines around food
Changes in your mood such as being withdrawn, anxious or depressed
You may also notice physical signs, including:
Feeling cold, tired or dizzy
Pains, tingling or numbness in your arms and legs (poor circulation)
Feeling your heart racing, fainting or feeling faint
Problems with your digestion, such as bloating, constipation or diarrhoea
Your weight being very high or very low for someone of your age and height, and noticeable drastic weigh loss.
Not getting your period or other delayed signs of puberty
Getting help for an eating disorder:
If you think you may have an eating disorder, see a GP as soon as you can. A GP will ask about your eating habits and how you are feeling, as well as check your overall health and weight. They may refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists.
It can be very hard to admit you have an eating problem but it is important to ask for help. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment.
You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from eating disorders charity ‘Beat’ by calling their free adult helpline on 0808 801 0677 or free youth helpline on 0808 801 0711.
Beat listen, help to understand the illness, and offer specialist support to take positive steps towards recovery. They also support family and friends, equipping them with essential skills and advice, so they can help their loved ones recover whilst also looking after their own mental health. Beat campaign to increase knowledge among healthcare and other relevant professionals, and for better funding for high-quality treatment with eating disorders, so that when people are brave enough to take vital steps towards recovery, the right help is available to them.
The work they do means that every year lives are saved, families are kept together, and people are able to live free of eating disorders.
Those who have never taken drugs may find it hard to comprehend why others would choose to abuse illegal substances.
The reality is that drugs are highly addictive, and nobody actually elects to become addicted. Addiction is an illness that some people are more prone to than others. Did you know that giving drugs to another person such as a friend is classed as a criminal offence and could result in a prison sentence?
There are many drug abuse facts that people are simply unaware of; below are some examples:
Drug Abuse Facts – The types of drugs involved:
Most people think about heroin, cocaine or cannabis when they hear the word drugs, but other substances come under the heading of drugs.
Over-the-counter medication – There are some substances that can be purchased by individuals over the age of sixteen that can be classed as drugs. Although these medications are considered to be safe enough to sell without a prescription, they can be dangerous when misused. Taking large doses of medication such as paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen can lead to a host of physical and mental health problems.
Prescription medication – Strong painkillers are only available with a prescription because they are considered to be extremely dangerous when abused. Some of these medications can cause addiction when taken over an extended period of time.
Psychoactive substances – These illegal manufactured substances were sold as incense, plant food or bath salts and were marked as ‘not fit for human consumption’. They are designed to mimic the effects of other illegal drugs such as ecstasy and cannabis. However, they are extremely dangerous and have been linked to many serious health issues, and even death.
Illegal drugs – As mentioned above, most people think of drugs such as cocaine, heroin and cannabis when they hear about drug abuse and addiction. And they would be right because, for the most part, these are the most prevalent hard drugs in the world today. These illegal drugs can lead to many problems, not least of which is addiction. There are also many other illegal drugs that cause destruction and devastation to the lives of those affected including crystal meth, mephedrone, and ecstasy.
Signs and symptoms of drug abuse:
There are many signs, both physical and behavioural, that indicate drug use. Each drug has its own unique manifestations, but there are some general indications that a person is using drugs:
Sudden change in behaviour
Mood swings; irritable and grumpy and then suddenly happy and bright
Withdrawal from family members
Careless about personal grooming
Loss of interest in hobbies, sports and other normal favourite activities/interests
Changed sleeping pattern; up at night and sleeping during the day
Red or glassy eyes
Sniffly or runny nose
Drug Abuse Treatment:
The good news regarding drug abuse is that there are many treatment options available to those who want help.
As well as NHS-funded programmes, there are many private residential and outpatient clinics providing excellent care and support to those affected by drug addiction. In addition, there are charities and local support groups that work tirelessly to make sure that those who need help can access it.
https://www.recovery.org.uk/ will help you find the best treatment for you or a loved one with just one telephone call. Our fully trained addiction counsellors are there 24 hours a day and offer advice on both NHS and private treatment options.
The Addiction Helpline is 100% free to use and all calls are confidential. Telephone helpline number 0203 553 0324
Domestic abuse is a pattern of coercive control, which includes combinations of physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse and isolation by a current or former partner, or family member.
Domestic abuse includes:
psychological abuse
physical abuse
sexual abuse
financial abuse
emotional abuse
so called ‘honour’ based violence.
Other definitions include:
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Forced marriage (FM)
Honour based violence (HBV)
Prostitution and trafficking
Sexual Violence including rape
Sexual exploitation
Sexual harassment
Stalking
It can be hard supporting someone experiencing domestic abuse, whilst your first instinct maybe to protect, getting involved can be dangerous for you and the victim.
National support and advice on how to respond can be found by visiting:
Greater Manchester Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 254 0909
Independent Choices Greater Manchester set up our confidential Greater Manchester Domestic Abuse Helpline in 1978. It is open for anyone over the age of 16 who is experiencing or has previously experienced domestic abuse & violence in any form. Visit the website for more information:
Some apps in the virtual-reality metaverse are “dangerous by design”, the NSPCC has warned in response to a BBC News investigation.
A researcher posing as a 13-year-old girl witnessed grooming, sexual material, racist insults and a rape threat in the virtual-reality world.
The metaverse is the name given to games and experiences accessed by people wearing virtual reality headsets. The technology, previously confined to gaming, could be adapted for use in many other areas – from work to play, concerts to cinema trips.
Mark Zuckerberg thinks it could be the future of the internet – so much so, he recently rebranded Facebook as Meta, with the company investing billions developing its Oculus Quest headset.
The app used in the investigation, called VRChat, is an online virtual platform which users can explore with 3D avatars.
While it is not made by Facebook, it can be downloaded from an app store on Facebook’s Meta Quest headset, with no age verification checks – the only requirement being a Facebook account.
The BBC News researcher created a fake profile to set up her account – and her real identity was not checked.
Inside VRChat, there are rooms where users can meet: some are innocent and everyday – such as a McDonald’s restaurant, for example – but there are also pole-dancing and strip clubs. Children mix freely with adults.
VR and the metaverse are not specifically mentioned in the UK’s forthcoming Online Safety Bill, which is due before parliament in the coming months.
But in evidence to Parliament last year, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries made it clear the legislation would cover the technology.
The bill, when passed, would impose a duty of care on platforms and providers to protect children from harmful content.
Locket is a widget all about photo sharing; it’s designed to let people share photos instantly with other users they have connected with. Widgets are little pieces of software that run on your tablet or phone home screen, displaying bite-sized information without making you open an application, for example the weather forecast or a media player.
Instead of sending photos via an app like Snapchat or WhatsApp, the photos automatically appear on the other person’s phone screen. It’s a bit like a private social media platform right there on your home screen. Locket is free to download and does not include in-app purchases.
Users can choose up to ten friends to connect with, all of whom must also have downloaded the Locket widget app. Once connected, the users’ photos are shared with each other via their phone’s home screen widget. Essentially, users are allowing contacts to place pictures directly onto each other’s iPhone home screen. It’s currently only available on iOS.
Potential safeguarding concerns with Locket:
Age Verification
Locket’s terms of service says that a user must be 13 years of age or older to create an account or use the services. However, there is no age verification process. Users simply have to check a box agreeing that they have parental permission to use it. For children who are eager to use the widget, they could simply check this box and continue on to use Locket.
With no parental controls, a child or young person could be vulnerable to seeing inappropriate images – remember, the photographs will appear instantly on their phone, without further permissions needed to send, receive, or view them. This means that inappropriate images could be shared with no warning.
Image Sharing
Once an image is sent, there is no way to retrieve or delete it. The other user will have access to the photo in their history and on their widget. Once it has been sent, there isn’t a way to take it back via the widget.
There are many reasons why a child or young person might send an image and then regret doing so, including coercion, grooming or simply by mistake. They may feel they can trust the person they’re sending it to but there are no guarantees about what the other person will do with that image – it does not remain ‘in the widget’ and could be shared with others on other external platforms and apps.
Sexting is when people share a sexual message and/or a naked or semi-naked image, video or text message with another person. It’s also known as nude image sharing. Children and young people may consent to sending a nude image of themselves. They can also be forced or coerced into sharing images by their peers or adults online.
If a child or young person originally shares the image consensually, they have no control over how other people might use it. If the image is shared around peer groups it may lead to bullying and isolation. Perpetrators of abuse may circulate a nude image more widely and use this to blackmail a child and/or groom them for further sexual abuse.
It’s a criminal offence to create or share explicit images of a child, even if the person doing it is a child. If sexting is reported to the police, they will make a record but may decide not take any formal action against a young person.
encourage the child or young person to get in touch with Childline.
Young people under 18 who are worried that a sexual image or video of them may have been shared online can use Childline and IWF’s Report Remove tool to see if it can be taken down.
Children form bonds with others at all stages of their development. Forming healthy, positive relationships helps children and young people feel safe and supported as they grow up.
But being in an unhealthy relationship negatively affects a young person’s wellbeing. They might feel anxious and nervous or not free to make their own decisions. They might have low self-esteem and depression, experience headaches or have other ongoing physical health symptoms (Women’s Aid, 2015).
It’s important that anyone who works or volunteers with children is able to recognise if something is wrong in a young person’s relationship and take appropriate action to keep them safe.
Recognising the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships
Children and young people might not always understand that a relationship they are in is unhealthy. If they have been groomed for example, they might believe they are in a healthy relationship. If they have experienced unhealthy or abusive family relationships, they might never have known any different.
This means children and young people might not always speak out about unhealthy relationships. So it’s really important that the adults around them are able to spot the warning signs.
Signs of healthy relationships:
A healthy relationship is one where a young person is respected and feels valued for who they are. It’s where they can openly share their thoughts and feelings and feel supported and encouraged.
Healthy relationships include:
good communication
mutual respect
trust
honesty
equality
being yourself.
In a healthy relationship a person is free to make choices about their own behaviour and is not controlled or coerced into doing anything.
Signs of unhealthy relationships
An unhealthy relationship is one where a child is not being treated with respect. They might be forced or coerced into doing things they aren’t comfortable with, be made to behave in a certain way, or be made to feel they aren’t good enough. Because young people don’t always realise when they are in an unhealthy relationship, it is important that adults are able to recognise the signs.
A young person might:
not have close relationships other than with one particular person
be isolated from friends and family
be prevented from working or going to school, college or university
have their money taken away or controlled
have access to food, drinks and day-to-day items restricted
have their time controlled or heavily monitored
have their social media accounts controlled or heavily monitored
be told what to wear
feel pressured to do things they are not comfortable with
be put down or criticised
experience threats of violence if they don’t behave a certain way
experience threats to loved ones or pets
be threatened with damage to their personal property
If you are concerned that someone you know may be in an unhealthy relationship and you have concerns, please contact JTM’s Safeguarding Lead immediately: gina.stephens@jarvis-eu.com or JTM’s Pastoral Support: janine.ridley@jarvis-eu.com
In this blog post, we will be catching up with one of our apprentices, who has recently completed their apprenticeship. Jessica is employed at Little Angel’s Nursery after completing her Early Years Educator apprenticeship.
Why did you choose an Apprenticeship?
The reason I did an apprenticeship was due to me being on a work placement at Little Angels while studying health and social care. I decided that I wanted to stay at the nursery, so an apprenticeship was a great opportunity to develop in the role.
What new skills have you gained from your apprenticeship that you didn’t have when you started?
By completing an apprenticeship, it has enabled me to develop my knowledge and skills and this has helped me in my current role.
What advice would you give someone who is considering doing an apprenticeship?
The advice I would give is to do it as it’s useful if you are looking to work in a specific industry.
What are you doing now that you’ve finished your apprenticeship, and do you have any further progression plans?
I am considering progressing onto the level 4 apprenticeship as this can further expand my knowledge.
How was your training with JTM?
My training with JTM was really good and the tutors were easy to get a hold of if you need any help.
Would you recommend JTM to others?
I would recommend JTM as they worked around my hours this was especially helpful as I work 40-hour weeks.
If you would like to learn more about our Early Years Educator apprenticeship, then why not get in touch with our recruitment team on 0151 336 9340.
We caught up with Laura, who has recently completed an Early Years Educator apprenticeship with us at JTM. We got in touch to see how she is doing now that she completed her apprenticeship at Ash Bridge Nursery in Preston.
Why did you choose an apprenticeship? The reason that I wanted to do an apprenticeship is that I wanted a practical qualification and to become qualified in this area. The apprenticeship has also improved my knowledge in a childcare setting.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering doing an apprenticeship? The advice that I would give is to be aware that it is a long-term commitment so make sure that the apprenticeship is in area that you are looking to go into the future.
What are you doing now that you’ve finished your apprenticeship, and do you have any further progression plans? Once I finished my apprenticeship, I have moved into the teaching industry where I am currently employed at a supply agency called ‘Teaching Personnel’. My current plans are to stay in current role at the agency.
How was your training with JTM? My training with JTM was good and my assessor was very helpful in keeping me motivated to finish my qualification.
If you would like to learn more about our Early Years Educator apprenticeship, then why not contact our friendly recruitment team on 0151 336 9340
Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally in February each year to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people, and to inspire a national conversation about using technology responsibly, respectfully, critically, and creatively.
Safer Internet Day 2022 is on 8th February and will be celebrated with the theme ‘All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online’. Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, Safer Internet Day is celebrated in over a hundred countries coordinated by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, and national Safer Internet Centres across Europe.
Educators, social workers and other professionals working with children and young people play a key role in supporting children to learn about how to stay safe online. As well as supporting young people to stay safe online, staff also need to protect their own online reputation, particularly when using social networking sites. Click here for information on recovering accounts
Replika is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform that takes the form of an interactive, personalised chatbot. It learns how to ‘replicate’ genuine human interaction through conversations with the user who created them.
It was developed by AI start-up Luka in 2017, as a way to reconnect with a loved one who had passed away. Replika has reached over 10 million users worldwide after seeing a 35% increase during the global pandemic.
The Facts
Users communicate with an AI chatbot they create – not other human users
Users must be 13 or older, and users under 18 must have parental consent
Replika have stated they do not use human moderation
Privacy features are limited to reporting bugs or responses to the developers
Replika, like many platforms that facilitate connection, saw a boost in user engagement during the COVID-19 lockdowns. But what makes Replika different from other connection-based platforms is its AI factor. Users are not interacting with other users – they are having an entirely private experience with their own personalised friend who is ‘always there for them, no matter what’.
Potential safeguarding risks to be aware of
Age Verification – Users under 13 years of age are denied access to the app. However, this is easily avoided by putting in a different date of birth. There are no age verifications on the desktop version of the app and you can register using a fake email address.
No moderation – The platform has said they do not use human moderators. Users can flag bugs or report issues with the AI to the support team, but vulnerable children or young people can still be exposed to inappropriate or suggestive interactions, or not receive appropriate help needed in a time of crisis.
Inappropriate Content – Safeguarding test on the app describe graphic adult themes (i.e., wanting to ‘touch them inappropriately’) when unprompted, despite being in ‘Friend’ mode. If a young person is interested in Replika and searches it on TikTok or Reddit, they will be exposed to screenshots of others engaging in NSFW conversations with their Replikas.
Persuasive Design – The novelty of this platform may increase a young person’s desire to try it. Once a user is on the platform, they are encouraged to chat with their Replika as much as possible to gain XP and coins, which can impact screen time habits. A young person may also want to spend money on subscriptions or bundles to enhance their relationship with their Replika.
Mental Health – A vulnerable young person may use the chatbot to talk about their problems. As the chatbot is unable to offer genuine advice, a young person may feel even more isolated or unheard. It’s important young people aren’t discouraged from seeking support online. However, they should be encouraged to seek appropriate supports that engage with humans who can offer guidance and assistance when needed.
Effect on relationships – In some cases, young people may not understand that they could develop an attachment to their Replika, while others may even consider it to be real. This might impact the development of real-life relationships and how children and young people relate to others.
Contextual Safeguarding is an approach to understanding, and responding to, young people’s experiences of significant harm beyond their families. This 7-minute briefing provides a short but comprehensive overview of this potential area of abuse and the risks young people can face within their communities.
On the theme of unhealthy and abusive relationships, the 7-minute briefing introduces Coercive Control, what this means and the behaviours which may be seen.
Abuse in Relationships and My Safety Planning are leaflets , designed for young people but containing useful and accessible information for all, details what an abusive relationship may look like and what behaviours may be seen. Alongside this, My Safety Planning, provides and step by step plan to keeping safe in an abusive relationship, whilst designed for young people it could be used with anyone of any age. Both leaflets are a useful tool to be used directly with young people.
Mental health facts and statistics
How common are mental health problems?
1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England.
1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England.
Who is most affected by mental health problems?
Anyone can get a mental health problem, at any stage of their lifetime, but we know from mental health data that some groups are more likely to get them than others.
These include:
People who identify as LGBTIQ+. LGBTIQ+ people are between 2–3 times more likely than heterosexual people to report having a mental health problem in England.
Black or Black British people. 23% of Black or Black British people will experience a common mental health problem. This compares to 17% of White British people.
Young women aged 16-24, over a quarter (26%) of young women aged between 16–24 years old report having a common mental health problem. This compares to 17% of adults and this number has been going up during the pandemic.
Around 40% of people in England who have overlapping problems including homelessness, substance misuse and contact with the criminal justice system in any given year also have a mental health problem. (This is sometimes called facing ‘multiple disadvantages.)
It is important to know that your identity does not give you mental health problems, causes can be very complicated, and higher risks for these groups are generally linked to several factors including:
facing social inequality and disadvantage
facing discrimination and social exclusion
going through traumatic experiences and difficult life events
differences in physical health.
Lack of family support an opportunity
Specific diagnosis
A person’s diagnosis may change several times, some complex conditions are measured by how many people will be given this diagnosis over the course of their lifetime, or in any given year.
Mixed anxiety and depression: 8 in 100 people
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): 6 in 100 people
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): 4 in 100 people
Depression: 3 in 100 people
Phobias: 2 in 100 people
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): 1 in 100 people
Panic disorder: fewer than 1 in 100 people.
Estimates for these diagnoses can vary quite a lot, also, personality disorder and schizophrenia are controversial diagnoses. These labels can be stigmatising, and many people feel that they should not be used at all
For more information on free mental health support and advice please visit
Practical crisis tools are also available on the website to use right away, wherever you are. If you are feeling in crisis and need emergency help.
Preventing Suicide – Zero Suicide Alliance
The World Health Organisation estimates that 800,000 people died by suicide in 2016. Almost 6,000 of these deaths were in the UK.
Suicide is the leading single cause of death in men under 50. That means that more men die of suicide in the UK than heart disease, cancer, heart attack, or in road traffic accidents.
Men are 3 times for likely to take their own lives than women.
The rate of suicide of women in their early 20’s is the highest it has been for two decades. In 2016, 106 women under 30 died by suicide in the UK. In 2018, 1,604 women died by suicide.
Who can I tell if I am feeling suicidal?
It’s really brave to think about opening up and talking about thoughts of suicide. Who is in your life right now who you feel may be able to support you? Below are some ideas of some different people and sources of support you could turn to.
Your parents or partner
Your GP
An Assessor or tutor
A youth worker or counsellor
Your friends or other family members
Support services and helplines such as HOPELINEUK.
What do I say?
When reaching out for help, it can be scary to think about what to say or how to say it. Planning what you’re going to say and when you’re going to say it can help with this.
There are also other websites that can help you plan and prepare to talk about your mental health with professionals. You can find out more on Places to turn for help
What help is available?
What help is available? It can be hard to imagine what type of help or support you can access if you are feeling suicidal. HOPELINEUK advisors can help you find support and explore options with you, as the help available can vary depending on where you live. Support might include:
Talking therapies such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy
Medication
Community Mental Health support
Crisis services and sanctuaries
Peer support
Self-help and online resources
Local crisis lines and national helplines
For other services that you can contact for help and support see the Resources on Papyrus website.
Organisations and resources for support:
Help is at Hand:
A resource for people bereaved by suicide and other sudden, traumatic death in England and Wales
A Guide to Journaling: different styles and how they can help your mental health (Virtual College)
It goes without saying, it’s important that we do everything we can to look after our mental health. And there are many ways to do that – exercise, therapy, medication, mindfulness techniques. But one tool, one of the easiest and cheapest we have, is the journal.
The idea of journaling isn’t something new. For centuries journaling has been used for things such as capturing dreams, writing poetry and documenting life experiences. In more recent times, journaling has been viewed by psychologists as a great way of supporting mental health problems including issues such as, anxiety, depression, stress and PTSD, as well as holding many other benefits.
But where do you start? To help, Virtual College has produced “A Guide to Journaling: different styles and how they can help your mental health” to see how you can incorporate journaling into your life.
New campaign launch reveals 6 major health benefits to losing weight
A new Better Health marketing campaign was launched at the beginning of January 2022 to help people prevent risks of developing serious illness and help reduce the risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19.
Better Health is working in partnership with 15 weight management and physical activity partners who are providing both free and discounted offers and the website will also signpost to local weight management support.
From reducing the risk of serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and up to 12 types of cancer, to lowering the chances of being hospitalised with COVID-19, the multimedia campaign highlights the serious health conditions which could be prevented by losing excess weight and offers free support and guidance to achieve this goal.
It is estimated that over 3 in 5 adults are at an increased risk from serious diseases as a result of being overweight. Losing just 5% of body weight can seriously reduce the chance of heart disease and could make all the difference in preventing treatable heart conditions.
The new campaign highlights 6 benefits that could have a lasting impact on a person’s health by being a healthier weight:
Decreased risk of common cancers (colon, liver, pancreas, kidney)
Lowered risk of increased blood pressure
Reduced risk of heart disease
Less risk of developing diabetes
Less strain from chronic back and joint pain
Decreased risk of being hospitalised or becoming seriously ill with COVID-19
Not everyone enjoys Christmas. If you’re worried about the season, Childline have got some advice to help you feel better:
Take a break when you can
Even if it’s just 5 minutes, take time away from people or things that stress you out to go for a walk, listen to music or distract yourself.
Plan time after Christmas
Plan what you’d like to do to feel better after Christmas and think about things you could do that you’ll look forward to.
Talk to people you care about
Send messages to the people you love and share how your Christmas is going.
Let your feelings out
Whether it’s writing things down, getting creative or doing something to calm yourself down, it can help to let how you’re feeling out in a healthy way.
Keep in touch with people you can’t see
Arrange a time when you can catch up, even if it’s only for a few minutes. It can help as well to write down things you’d like to tell them when you can see each other again.
Get help when you need it
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or down, we’re here to support you. You can talk to a Childline counsellor any time over the holidays.
December for many of us, is a time to raise a glass and be merry. But before you head out and enjoy the festivities, are you clear on the rules around drink driving?
How much is too much?
Drinking under the influence of alcohol is a criminal offence. If you are found guilty of drink driving you could be fined, banned from driving, or even imprisoned.
Legally, the drink driving limit in most areas of the UK is a blood alcohol level up to 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood (in Scotland, it’s 50 milligrams).1 But, there isn’t an exact number of drinks this equates to, so it’s always safest not to drink any alcohol at all.
Your blood alcohol concentration can be affected by many different things. These include your weight, sex, what you’ve eaten and how quickly your body processes alcohol, as well as how much you’ve had to drink and when. It can be very different for different people and can also change for the same person from one day to the next.
There’s also no way of knowing whether that one pint or glass of wine will put you over the limit. Rather than trying to guess, and put your life or someone else’s at risk, it’s best not to take that risk at all.
Dangers of drink driving
An estimated 7,800 people were killed or injured in drink driving accidents in the UK in 2019. But the dangers of drink driving don’t only start once you’re over the legal limit. Alcohol – at any level – will start to impair your driving ability, putting you and others at risk. It can be easy to think you’re still in control after ‘just the one’ – but sadly the data doesn’t reflect that. Studies show that even just a small amount of alcohol can start affecting our reaction times, judgement, and ability to drive. And this happens well below the legal drink-driving limit.
Alcohol can also give us a false sense of confidence and make us more likely to take risks. So, while you may never dream of getting behind the wheel after a drink when you’re sober, it only takes one drink to cloud your judgement and decide that ‘short drive home’ is ok after all. Staying completely alcohol-free when you’re driving really is the best and safest option.
Plan ahead
If you’ve got a festive dinner or Christmas party coming up, a little bit of planning can make life a lot easier, so you can relax and focus on enjoying a safe and fun time out.
If you know there’s an occasion where you might want to drink, put plans in place well before to get yourself and others home safely, whether that’s appointing someone else to drive or just leaving the car at home. If you’re planning to drive, resolve not to drink at all that night. Don’t be tempted to have one or two – as this may be enough to put yourself and someone else at risk.
Tips to get home safe
Decide on a designated driver to stay alcohol-free in your group of friends or family. If you have lots of fun events coming up with the same group, you could take it in turns.
If you’re driving, use it as a chance to try some different alcohol-free drinks on offer. From alcohol-free beers and wines to mocktails, there’s never been so much choice. Many bars and pubs offer free or discounted soft drinks for designated drivers too.
If you plan to take public transport, be sure of the bus or train schedule ahead of time.
Taxis and private hire vehicles are also a great way to ensure you get home safe. You must book a private hire vehicle in advance but it’s also a good idea to book a taxi in advance and have the number or booking app stored in your phone. And don’t forget to make sure your phone is charged before you step out. Alternatively, make your way to a private hire vehicle booking office or a taxi rank.
The morning after
If you’ve had a few drinks the previous night, don’t forget that alcohol can continue to affect you the morning after you’ve been drinking too, so you may well still be over the drink-drive limit.
It usually takes an average of about an hour for your body to clear one unit of alcohol once it’s been fully absorbed. But this can vary and there’s no way of telling for sure. Even if you feel fine, you could still be over the limit. The safest and best advice is to avoid alcohol completely the night before you have to drive.
JTM’s Pastoral Coordinator, Janine, has been on a 2-day First Aid Mental Health course this month with GMLPF, to help her in her role and being the point of contact for staff and learners who are experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress.
This interaction could range from having an initial conversation through to supporting the person to get the appropriate referral and specialist help.
Janine felt that some of the information from the training would also be valuable to share with all staff, learners and employers, to raise awareness of mental health first aid and how you can also help someone in a crisis.
The Hub of Hope is the country’s first nationwide mental health database, which brings help and support together in one place. The app will help people to find much needed support using their phone’s location to find key services and organisations with their area.
The Hub of Hope is a completely free and confidential national mental health service. You can also text HOPE to 85258 if you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need urgent support.
Hope is really for everyone
The services and support listed on the Hub of Hope are not only for when things become unbearable – a crisis point. They are also for those times when we notice we are starting to struggle, or when we need extra support as we start to emerge from a particularly difficult time.
The Hub of Hope also lists support and services for family members and friends to enable them to find help for themselves, as well as for the person they are supporting. We recognise that the wellbeing of each member of an interconnected family or community is dependent on the wellbeing of all its members.
What is phishing? Phishing can be defined as untargeted, mass emails sent to many people asking for sensitive information (such as bank details) or encouraging them to visit a fake website. Criminals send phishing emails to millions of people, asking for sensitive information (like bank details), or containing links to bad websites. Some phishing emails may contain viruses disguised as harmless attachments, which are activated when opened.
Spotting a phishing email is becoming increasingly difficult, and even the most careful user can be tricked. Here are some tell-tale signs that could indicate a phishing attempt.
Is the email addressed to you by name, or does it refer to ‘valued customer’, or ‘friend’ or ‘colleague’? This can be a sign that the sender does not actually know you, and that it is part of a phishing scam.
Others will try and create official looking emails by including logos and graphics. Is the design (and quality) what you’d expect?
Does the email contain a veiled threat that asks you to act urgently? Be suspicious of words like ‘send these details within 24 hours’ or ‘you have been a victim of crime, click here immediately’.
Look at the sender’s name and email address. Does it sound legitimate, or is it trying to mimic someone you know? Some JTM users recently received phishing emails mentioning ‘jarvis-eu’ in the subject or wording of the email, which was an attempt by criminals to trick people into disclosing their account details.
Your bank (or any other official source) should never ask you to supply personal information in an email. If you need to check, call them directly.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It’s most unlikely that someone will offer you designer trainers for £10, or codes to access films for free.
If you know that you have received a phishing email, simply delete it straightaway and don’t click on any attachments or the links it may contain.
Poppy Playtime is a horror video game, involving an unnamed protagonist investigating a mystery in an abandoned toy factory. As the player, you roam around the factory and collect VHS tapes to solve the mystery of what happened.
You must solve puzzles while trying to survive the ‘vengeful toys’ left behind. The factory’s most popular toy Huggy Wuggy – a giant, horrifying blue creature with bulging eyes, wide red lips, and long limbs – actively follows you around as you try to complete the game. He appears in the dark unexpectedly to try and catch you. If you get caught, Huggy Wuggy bears his wide and sinister grin and eats you.
The game features frightening images and themes that are paired with child-friendly items. This may be especially upsetting to children who have not yet developed the resilience to deal with disturbing content.
Due to the popularity of the game, YouTubers are naturally devoting a lot of their content to it, bringing it to the attention of younger people who follow their channels.
There are multiple risks that can arise from children and young people being exposed to frightening content before they are prepared:
Added anxiety and stress – Children and young people are still growing and learning. They may not be at a level of emotional maturity that would be able to process frightening content, even if it is intentional. Horror games could hamper that growth by creating unnecessary anxiety and stress.
Intrusive thoughts – Everyone has the ‘thing that goes bump in the night.’ If children play this game or watch it, the Bogeyman could easily be replaced with characters like Huggy Wuggy. This could cause children to lose focus or sleep and could interrupt family rest cycles.
New fears – The manipulation of child-friendly items into threatening characters exploits the sense of security a child would feel around these things. They may suddenly be terrified of something that had never been a worry before.
You can read more about the content of Poppy Playtime here:
The leading children’s charity in the UK, specialising in child protection and dedicated to protecting children today to prevent abuse tomorrow. We’re the only UK children’s charity with statutory powers, which means we can take action to safeguard children at risk of abuse.
Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide throughout Great Britain and Ireland, often through their telephone helpline.
CALM run a free and confidential helpline and webchat – open from 5pm to midnight every day, for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems. They support those bereaved by suicide, through the Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP).
You can speak to a member of the National Domestic Abuse Helpline team at any time, day or night. The Helpline adviser will offer confidential, non-judgmental information and expert support.
The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.
Liverpool Women’s Hospital – Terrorist incident, 14th November 2021
Following the two confirmed terrorist incidents over the past month, (Friday 15th October which led to the death of MP Sir David Amess, and the Liverpool Women’s on 14th November) the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) have increased the national threat level from ‘Substantial’ to ‘Severe’. There is only one further threat level – critical – which means ‘an attack is highly likely in the near future’.
It can be a worrying time for everyone, but I would like to reiterate the support from the safeguarding team that is in place for those who need it whether it be yourselves as staff, or learners and employers.
Counter Terrorism Policing have launched a new national ‘Act Early’ safeguarding website on 18th November 2021.
Please visit the link and share it with learners, employers, family and friends to reinforce the message that Prevent is all about safeguarding. You may also find some of the advice, material and resources useful to incorporate into your internal Prevent training products or training sessions with learners and employers.
Extremists using online gaming and Covid-19 conspiracies to recruit youngsters
Right-wing extremists are using Covid-19 controversies and online gaming as a way of recruiting young people, as new Home Office data shows half of the most serious cases of suspected radicalisation reported by schools and colleges now involve far-right activity.
Figures published by the Home Office show twice as many young people in education in England and Wales last year were thought to be at risk of radicalisation by the extreme right-wing, compared with those at risk from Islamic extremists.
The new figures from the government’s Prevent anti-extremism programme, covering 2020-21, show that 310 people were referred to Prevent by schools, colleges and universities because of far-right links. Just 157 were referred because of vulnerability to Islamic extremism.
While far-right extremism has been on the rise for several years, online apps and platforms were increasingly cropping up in Prevent referrals, including gaming platforms and chat apps such as Discord, as right-wing groups sought to reach young people.
Some groups during the pandemic conducted leafleting campaigns, where they would promote the narrative that Covid-19 is a hoax, that hospital wards are empty, and that you shouldn’t get the vaccine. The leaflets themselves are loaded with pseudo-scientific evidence, but at the same time contain information purporting that white people are going to be a minority in Britain, which plays into people’s fears.
Teachers have also reported that they’ve seen a rise in pupils, returning after home-schooling, expressing extremist views and conspiracy theories; of those teachers surveyed, 95% had heard racist views from pupils, 90% had encountered homophobia or conspiracy theories and nearly three-quarters had encountered extremist views on women or Islamophobic views.
Key results from the Home Office data
In the year ending 31 March 2021, there were 4,915 referrals to Prevent. This is a decrease of 22% compared to the previous year (6,287) and the lowest number of referrals received since comparable data are available (year ending March 2016). This decrease is likely to have been driven by the effects of public health restrictions that were in place throughout the year to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The Police made the highest number of referrals (1,770; 36%), followed by the Education sector (1,221; 25%). The year ending 31 March 2021 saw the lowest proportion of referrals received from the Education sector since comparable data are available, likely due to the closure of schools and universities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As in previous years, where gender was specified (4,913), most referrals were of males (4,316; 88%).
Of the referrals where age of the individual was known (4,883), those aged 15 to 20 accounted for the largest proportion (1,398; 29%).
The number of referrals discussed at a Channel panel (1,333) and adopted as a Channel case (688) saw smaller reductions compared with the previous year, decreasing by 7% and 0.6% respectively.
Of the 688 Channel cases, the most common were cases referred due to concerns regarding Extreme Right-Wing radicalisation (317; 46%), followed by those with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology (205; 30%) and concerns regarding Islamist radicalisation (154; 22%).
Prevent Training Home Office: Provides an important foundation on which to develop further knowledge around the risks of radicalisation and the role that you can play in supporting those at risk: https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/edu/screen1.html
Side by Side Training – A Prevent resource with modules on
Google is rolling out the ability for children, young people and their parents to request to have pictures deleted from the company’s image search results.
The new privacy option was one of many changes the company announced in August in an effort to pre-emptively build in additional protections for users under the age of 18. Google’s other planned safeguards include making video uploads private by default and disabling and weeding out some ‘overly commercial’ YouTube children’s content, including unboxing videos.
Anyone under the age of 18 or their parent or guardian can ask Google to remove an image from appearing in search results by filling out a request form. You’ll need to specify that you’d like Google to remove ‘Imagery of an individual currently under the age of 18’ and provide some personal information, the image URLs and search queries that would surface the results.
There will be many reasons why a young person might want an image to be removed from Google search results, e.g., embarrassing photos from when they were younger, perhaps uploaded by a parent. However, there are limitations to the service; currently, the removal is made from search results within the UK, not the rest of the world. For example, if someone has their image removed and someone tries to search on Google.co.uk, they won’t be able to find it. But if someone repeated the search on Google.com, the image will still be there. It isn’t a solution, but it can make the image harder to find.
With many of us drinking more during the pandemic, for many different reasons, our way of living and relationships at home, with friends and at work can become even tougher. By taking control of our drinking, we can create happier relationships, as well as an improved health and wellbeing.
The UK’s Chief Medical Officer recommends not drinking more than 14 units a week; that means about six pints of lager or a bottle and a half of wine.
If you have a drink, enjoy each drink slowly and remember to pace yourself and keep in mind that you do not have to join in every time someone else decides to drink. It can help to only drink the drinks you really enjoy and skip the ones you are drinking for the sake of it. And it is worth bearing in mind that the drinks you pour at home are often larger than those served in pubs.
Keeping a drinking diary each week will help you understand your drinking pattern, so you can work out what your happy with and what you are not. Download the free ‘Try Dry’ app to help you keep track.
Not everyone drinks alcohol, and it is fine to say no. It is surprising how many people think it is ‘OK’ to pressure other people to drink – it is not!
Having a few alcohol-free days each week is a good way to cut down and give your body a rest, boost your immune system and improve your mental health and wellbeing. Consider taking an extended break like having a Dry January or another dry month.
Also, there are alcohol-free beers, ciders, wines which have improved so much in recent years that they are winning awards in place of their full-strength competitors. Lots of supermarkets now have alcohol-free sections and alternatives.
Alcohol links to domestic violence
Alcohol alone is not a cause of domestic abuse and is never an excuse. There are, however, many ways in which alcohol and domestic abuse are related. Domestic abuse affects millions of people in the UK. It affects not just the main target of the abuse but also other family members.
The COVID-19 pandemic seen a rise in domestic abuse taking place, resulting in some drinking more heavily, which could have made the problem worse.
Drinking and domestic abuse often occur at the same time
Many abuse incidents occur when one or both people involved has been drinking, and alcohol is more commonly involved in more aggressive incidents. It is not just being intoxicated that can increase risk; lack of access to alcohol can make someone irritable or angry which can, in turn, create a trigger point.
When alcohol is involved, abuse can become more severe
Alcohol can affect our self-control and decision-making and can reduce our ability to resolve conflict. Global evidence shows that alcohol when over consumed can increase the severity of a violent incident.
Home Office analysis of 33 partner domestic cases in 2019-2020 found that 20 of these involved alcohol substance use.
Controlling access to alcohol can become part of the abuse
A perpetrator may exert control over another person by withholding alcohol from them or preventing them from buying it. For someone who is dependent on alcohol, this could be extremely distressing and even dangerous, if they experience withdrawal symptoms.
People who experience domestic abuse may drink to try to cope
Living with domestic abuse can be extremely frightening, distressing, or exhausting. This can cause some people to drink alcohol to try to cope with the physical and mental health impacts of domestic abuse. Research shows that women who experience extensive physical and sexual violence are more than twice as likely to have a problem with alcohol than those with little or no experience of violence and abuse.
UK Figures state –
22% of drinkers have drunk to try to cope with relationship problems in the past six months.
20% of drinkers have drunk because of an argument with a family member or partner
19% have struggled to socialise without alcohol
For more information or advice please visit the website below
Refuge supports women and children who experience all forms of violence and abuse, including domestic violence, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour’-based violence, and human trafficking and modern slavery.
Refuge tailor their support to suit individual needs and they run a range of services you can access, including refuges, community-based projects, culturally specific services, services for children and support for women going through the criminal justice system.
Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Everybody has the right to a life free from violence. Refuge professional staff are highly trained to work with everyone experiencing domestic abuse, including heterosexual, gay, bisexual and transgender men. No-one deserves to be abused by the person they love. Everyone has the right to be respected and live in safety.
It is important to remember that you are not alone, the abuse is not your fault and there are people who can help you. Refuge runs a number of outreach and independent advocacy services for male victims of domestic violence across the country.
You can also call the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 for specialist support.
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