The JTM Blog

Keeping Children Safe In Education  (KCSIE)

KCSIE is one of the key statutory guidance documents we are legally bound to follow when safeguarding children and young people  in education. The attachment sets out the key points of KCSIE and your safeguarding responsibilities.

Whilst the guidance may legally apply to ‘children’ aged under 18  much of the guidance should be equally applied to all of our learners, whatever their age.

Restart a Heart Day

 is an annual training event which takes place on the 16th of October 2023, to raise awareness about cardiac arrest and for people to learn about cardiopulmonary (CPR) and defibrillator use, giving them the confidence to use lifesaving skills.

Education and training will be offered to the general public in CPR and what to do in the event of a heart attack.

Why it is important

Approximately 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year in the UK. Sadly, less than one in 10 people survive these cardiac arrests. Performing CPR can more than double the chances of survival in some cases.

More people can survive by making sure that more people know that when someone collapses and stops breathing, it is important to call 999, perform CPR and use a defibrillator if there is one available nearby. At around 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home this is the best chance of surviving.

How can you get involved?

1. Learn CPR with RevivR

You never know when you will need to give someone CPR – it may save the life of a friend or family member. With just a smartphone, a cushion, and 15 minutes of your time, you will know what to do if someone has a cardiac arrest. 

Learning how to save a life is now easier than ever. The free 15-minute CPR training teaches you exactly what to do when someone has a cardiac arrest.

RevivR is completely free and at the end, you will get the option of receiving a certificate.

2. Plan your CPR training

Workplace or community groups

If you want to train your workplace or community group, you can buy a kit online. It contains everything you need to run a CPR training session, including reusable manikins, and a training DVD so no instructor is needed. Alternatively, you can watch the training video online.

3. Run your training digitally or face to face on or around Restart a Heart Day, 16 October

Whether you are a school, workplace, or member of your community, get everyone together and learn how to save a life.

4. Use #RestartAHeart to follow what’s happening on the day

You do not have to wait for Restart a Heart Day to start CPR training. Watch the videos now, use RevivR or get your CPR training kit.

Resources

There are videos and resources available to make training as easy as possible using the links below

• Watch our How to do CPR video playlist on YouTube
• Get CPR training resources for your workplace or community
• Get CPR training resources for your school or College

Restart a Heart Day | Annual CPR awareness day in October – BHF

Exploitation

Exploitation is a form of abuse where someone, adult or child, is forced or coerced into doing things for the benefit of others.

• exploitation is often a gradual process
• people are groomed and introduced to new ideas, behaviours and activities, making these appear normal and acceptable
• these behaviours and activities may seem exciting or give someone something they are looking for – including money, gifts or a sense of belonging
• people may not recognise that they are being exploited until their situation becomes very serious
• exploitation can take many forms, can take place in a range of situations, and can involve many groups of people.

Common forms of exploitation include:

Criminal exploitation – being forced to take part in criminal activities such as transporting or selling illegal items (e.g. drugs); participating in violent or acquisitive crime; or grooming and exploiting other people.

Debt bondage – present in many forms of exploitation. People may accumulate ‘debts’ during exploitation, such as payments for transport and accommodation, or ‘free’ drugs and money. People may be forced to carry out work, favours or criminal activities to pay off their debts and may be threatened with violence if they do not.

Drug trafficking – being forced to transport drugs to areas where they can be sold and distributed. This can involve county lines activities (where drug gangs transport drugs to towns and cities along ‘deal lines’). Drug trafficking can be a form of modern slavery and human trafficking if people are forced to travel to take part in the transportation and sale of drugs.

Financial exploitation –  being deceived or coerced into handing over monetary funds or assets to others. This can happen through scams, fraud, blackmail, or through accruing debts.

Labour exploitation – being forced to work for little or no pay, often in poor conditions. People experiencing labour exploitation may have limited freedom and may be forced to live with other workers. Labour exploitation is a form of modern slavery.

Modern slavery – having control or ownership over another person and using this power to exploit them. Modern slavery can include human trafficking, enslavement, domestic servitude and forced labour. 

Radicalisation – the process through which people come to support increasingly extreme political, religious or other ideals. This can lead them to support violent extremism and terrorism.

Sexual exploitation – a form of sexual abuse where people are encouraged, manipulated or forced to participate in sexual acts. They may be threatened with violence and may be groomed by offers of affection, money or gifts.

How to respond if you have a concern for yourself or someone else.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.

If you’re worried but there is not immediate danger, you should share your concerns.

• Follow your organisational safeguarding procedures: speak with the Designated Safeguarding Officer, your manager, tutor or someone else you trust.
• Contact your local child protection services. Their contact details can be found on the website for the local authority the individual lives in. 
• Contact the police.
• Contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or by emailing [email protected]. Trained professionals will talk through your concerns with you and give you expert advice. 

Services will risk assess the situation and take action to protect as appropriate either through statutory involvement or other support. This may include making a referral to the local authority.

Northamptonshire Police have created a short film for parents to raise awareness of child exploitation.  It includes examples of what child exploitation can involve, including criminal and sexual exploitation; common signs of possible exploitation; and information on how to report concerns.

Watch the video/film: Film launched to tackle child exploitation

Prevent and Radicalisation

The current UK national terrorist threat level remains at  ‘substantial’, which is defined as ‘an attack is likely’. This level has been unchanged since February 2022 and is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5).

The threat to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland-related terrorism is ‘severe’, which is defined as ‘an attack is highly likely’.

For more information: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/eccf780d/Gh6Gt_c6JkWEdmo1TjplEQ?u=https://www.gov.uk/terrorism-national-emergency

Barnsley Man Sentenced For Possessing Terrorist Material

A 42 year old man from Barnsley, Ashley Podsiad Sharp, was sentenced in August after been found guilty at a trial in May.

He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and an additional five years on licence (following his release from prison) at a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court.

He had previously been found guilty of one offence of possessing a document which may be of use to a terrorist, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The defendant was charged by Counter Terrorism Policing North East in October 2022. He was arrested in June that year following the discovery of concerning material he had posted in connection with an online athletics club.

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Northeast commented: “Tackling extremist and instructional material is an essential part of protecting the public and preventing it from potentially influencing or informing the actions of others. We will prosecute anyone found to be in possession of such material and will continue work with our partners to remove content of concern from online platforms.”

For more information, please visit:

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/eb062eff/dAz137xLj02NUtQkka_qTQ?u=https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/barnsley-man-convicted-of-possessing-terrorist-material/

Local Risks . Top reported crimes for our regions

To help you identify local risks we include in each bulletin the top reported crimes for some of our regions.

By using the link you can drill down further into postcode areas.

The following were the most commonly reported crimes during the month of June 2023:

Statistics taken from https://link.edgepilot.com/s/5a2e5bdd/EObKQwLdnUa_Xz5EFdJQEw?u=https://www.police.uk/

Online safety

The UK Safer Internet Centre’s Professionals Online Safety Helpline has introduced new guidance to aid educators and professionals working with adults and young people. The guidance aims to answer frequently asked queries on topics including reporting content of concern on social media, impersonation on social media platforms, and responding to incidents of young people sharing nude images online.

Read/Download the resources: New resources available from the Professionals Online Safety Helpline

Talk to Us

Throughout July, the Samaritans will be running its annual awareness-raising campaign, Talk to Us. The campaign aims to let people know that Samaritans volunteers are there 24/7 for anyone who is struggling to cope.

Samaritans are challenging the UK to become better listeners by sharing expert tips on how to be a better listener. Throughout July, Samaritans branches are also holding events throughout the UK and Ireland to raise awareness of the services they offer in their local communities. Visit your local branch website to see what they’re doing during Talk To .

In 2022 there wasn’t a single second when Samaritans volunteers weren’t on the phone to someone.

If you’d like to get involved, you can help raise awareness this month by sharing Samaritans’ messaging on your own social media pages using #TalkToUs and #SamaritansAwarenessDay.

When life is difficult, Samaritans are there – day or night, 365 days a year.

They can be contacted  free on 116 123,

email them at [email protected]

or visit https://link.edgepilot.com/s/0ab48d2d/TlDXGl2UYEusLROpIvakTQ?u=https://www.samaritans.org/branches/ to find your nearest branch.

Top tips for active listening

1. Face the speaker and have eye contact. …
2. “Listen” to non-verbal cues too. …
3. Don’t interrupt. …
4. Listen without judging, or jumping to conclusions. …
5. Don’t start planning what to say next. …
6. Show that you’re listening. …
7. Don’t impose your opinions or solutions. …
8. Stay focused.

For more information 10 tips for active listening – Heart Matters magazine – BHF

Alcohol Awareness Week is an awareness raising campaign and takes place from 3^rd– 9th July and is a chance for the UK to get thinking about drinking. It’s a week of awareness-raising, campaigning for change, and more.

The theme for Alcohol Awareness Week 2023 is ‘Alcohol and cost’

Alcohol Awareness Week | Alcohol Change UK

Why?

The harm caused by alcohol affects millions of people every year in the form of health problems, financial worries, relationship breakdown and family difficulties. It brings with it huge social costs too with the significant pressure it places on the NHS, the emergency services, police, and workplaces.

The total social cost of alcohol to society is estimated to be at least £21 billion each year. We as individuals also spend tens of thousands of pounds on average on alcohol over the course of a lifetime.

But the personal costs are much starker with alcohol death rates increasing to the highest rate since records began since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and millions more people suffering from worsened mental and physical health every day as a result of harmful drinking.

We can all take steps to make a change. And with improved support and prevention, we can save money and save lives.

Am I drinking too much ?

Knowing ‘how much is too much’ can be confusing when it comes to alcohol. Most of us feel that we know when we’ve overdone it, but sometimes drinking can ‘creep up’ on us and, over time, we can find that we’re drinking more than we would like. For more information around what is healthy drinking

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/355976e5/8xUj4sXGt02tdKSAufkNqQ?u=https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/am-i-drinking-too-much

Check how healthy your drinking is with this quiz  

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/d9852121/sj7E3eGGi0qOSXE8wgCbNA?u=https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/interactive-tools/check-your-drinking

For more facts and information: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/46b9d547/d9La3eTatEiLV17ujJwv7w?u=https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets

Mental Health Support

The Hub of Hope- ‘There is always hope for everyone’.

The Hub of Hope is the country’s first nationwide completely free and confidential mental health database service, which brings help and support together in one place. To date, the Hub of Hope has directed hundreds of thousands of people to life-changing and even life-saving support and it is now the UK’s go-to mental health support signposting tool, with thousands of local, regional, and national support groups and services listed.

The Hub of Hope support services are not only for when things become unbearable – or when at a crisis point. They are also for those times when we notice we are starting to struggle or cope day to day, 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.

It is recognised by the service that the wellbeing of each member of an interconnected family or community is dependent on the wellbeing of all.

Understanding depression

All of us go through periods where we feel unhappy and fed up, but sometimes experiences of low mood, sadness, tearfulness, difficulty sleeping, lack of energy and loss of interest in the things we enjoy – often referred to as depression – can persist for weeks or months.

Although a common experience, it can be very distressing – and even life-threatening for those of us who feel so desperate that we consider taking our own lives. Often it is related to the events and circumstances of our lives and the meaning that they have for us. This is particularly true for loss, or experiences that make us feel hopeless, humiliated, defeated, or ashamed. Sometimes it is hard to work out what started it, but we feel stuck in a vicious circle of despair and lethargy.

Getting help

In terms of help, different things help different people. Often practical things such as self-care are central, including exercise, eating, and sleeping well. Doing things that connect us with others, including people with similar experiences, either informally or in organised peer support groups can be a big help. Therapy or counselling can help us understand what might have led to our feelings of depression and what might be keeping it going and can help us find ways to support ourselves and to regulate our physical and emotional states. Depression and loneliness often go hand in hand, so finding ways to connect or reconnect with our friends, families and communities can be key.

You can access the website on the link below, or you can download the Hub of Hope app to help people find much needed support using their phone’s location to find key services and organisations with their area and surrounding areas.

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/311607de/yiBOU087gkul6bCs11jBug?u=https://hubofhope.co.uk/

If you prefer you can text HOPE to 85258 if you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need urgent support.

If you or someone you know feels suicidal, or may be a danger to themselves or others, call 999, your local crisis service or Crisis Text Line directly through the Hub of Hope app, via the Need Help Now? Button.

Prevent and Radicalisation

The current national terrorist threat level is ‘substantial’, which is defined as ‘an attack is likely’. This level has been unchanged since February 2022 and is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5).

For more information: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/21d5e480/n0oZxtO9H02E1E2VzQzqhQ?u=https://www.gov.uk/terrorism-national-emergency

Jury convicts Yorkshire pair following trial at Leeds Crown Court

Two people from Yorkshire have been sentenced at Leeds Crown Court in June after been found guilty of multiple offences.

Darren Reynolds from Sheffield has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and Christine Grayson from York has been given a 12-month custodial sentence.

Grayson subscribed to conspiracy theories involving 5G mobile phone masts and used her views to justify her plan to damage and potentially destroy local 5G masts.

Reynolds posted and shared material that supported his extreme right-wing views. He collected multiple sources of illegal neo-Nazi material that included images and videos that were racist and antisemitic.

The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Northeast, commented: “Hateful views aim to sow discord and distrust in our communities, and one post or video has the power to radicalise and encourage others to commit acts of terrorism.”

For more information, please visit: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/c61058a8/mJRG-fJcQkCntoeiqwyPPg?u=https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/jury-convicts-yorkshire-pair-following-trial-at-leeds-crown-court/

Man jailed after witness reports bomb making manuals on laptop.

Asad Bhatti of Redhill in Surrey was handed an eight-year jail sentence in June following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE).

The investigation began when it was reported to police that documents with suspicious titles about bomb making were slowing down a repair process being performed on his laptop.

Although the witness did not know what the files were, he had some suspicions about the titles and decided that making a report was the right thing to do.

This led to a thorough investigation being carried out and searches being made of his properties and electronics, which ultimately helped to secure Bhatti’s conviction.

The 47-year-old was found guilty at the Old Bailey on 17 March this year of two counts of possessing an article for the purpose of terrorism, contrary to Section 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and three counts of making or possessing an explosive substance under suspicious circumstances contrary to Section 4 of the Explosive Substance Act.

Along with being found to have manuals Bhatti compiled and wrote about making explosives, shooting techniques and hand to hand combat. He had combat and explosive making manuals that had been published by others as well as on a USB stick.

Within a storage unit, officers found chemicals, chemistry equipment, electronic circuitry and even an improvised explosive device, which was dismantled and not deemed functional.

The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Southeast said: “This case is a perfect example of how important it is that the people within our communities, the people who know it best, are confident to report anything suspicious into us. Each year thousands of reports like this one, help police to tackle the terrorist threat. You are not expected to be an expert, but if you have any suspicions, please make a report.”

For more information, please visit: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/d2d03ba7/fGkytVb73E6Cq-ppa4jPKQ?u=https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/man-jailed-after-witness-reports-bomb-making-manuals-on-laptop/

Local Risks . Top reported crimes for our regions

To help you identify local risks we include in each bulletin the top reported crimes for some of our regions. 

By using the link you can drill down further into postcode areas.

The following were the most commonly reported crimes during the month of April 2023:

Statistics taken from https://link.edgepilot.com/s/5ec3bab8/FRxiPDdvvUKvuneOAp32aw?u=https://www.police.uk/

2023 updates to the Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE).

The Department for Education published the updated KCSIE guidance for schools and colleges this month. This NSPCC briefing easily summaries the 2022 and 2023 changes that have been made to the guidance, including additional pre-recruitment checks and responding to allegations.

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/eeda3786/RMt5F0_lf0u6mLrV5A93ew?u=https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/schools/keeping-children-safe-in-education-caspar-briefing?utm_campaign=2023-06-28-June-

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying and harassment using technology. This includes trolling, mobbing, stalking, grooming or any form of abuse online. Cyberbullying is most certainly on the increase – more and more cases are being reported to our helpline by children and by extremely worried parents.

Over half of the UK’s 12- to 15-year-olds have faced some form of bullying, including Cyberbullying over the last year. Research by the National Centre for Social Research found that 47% of young people reported being bullied at the age of 14. The same study showed that girls are more likely to be bullied, than boys, in that same age group.

Some examples of cyberbullying can include:

• Spreading malicious and abusive rumours and gossiping
• Emailing or texting you with threatening or intimidating remarks
• Mobbing (a group or gang that target you)
• Harassing you repeatedly
• Intimidation and blackmail
• Stalking you on-line and continually harassing you
• Posting embarrassing or humiliating images or videos without your consent
• Posting your private details on-line without consent
• General Bullying or Stalking
• Grooming (enticing or goading you on-line to self-harm or commit a crime)
• Setting up a false profile, Identity fraud or identity theft
• Using gaming sites to attack or bully you
• Theft, Fraud or deception over the internet

For more information https://link.edgepilot.com/s/de7d4441/joI8EK8_-kOD_xOJU_lhSA?u=https://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk/cyberbullying.html

Modern slavery

Modern slavery is a serious and often hidden crime. It comprises slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, which is the harbouring and transportation of individuals for exploitation.

A victim is usually used and exploited for someone else’s gain, without respect for their human rights and involving some element of coercion, such as threats, use of force, deception, or abuse of power so that the victim performs acts or services against their will. Victims can be any nationality, gender and age but children, young people and vulnerable adults are often targeted.

Forms of slavery include Sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced labour , criminal exploitation. Other forms of exploitation include organ removal, forced begging, forced benefit fraud, forced marriage and illegal adoption.

For more information and short videos around the various forms of modern slavery click here Learn – FreedomUnited.org

Also see NSPCC Learning

> Protecting children from trafficking and modern slavery

How to report a crime

Police

Call 999 in an emergency situation and 101 if sharing information about a modern slavery issue.

Charities

Modern slavery and exploitation helpline – 0800 0121 700.

Salvation Army referral helpline – 0800 808 3733.

Home – Victim Support – 0808 168 9111

Helping under 18s

For advice for under 18s, call the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice Centre 080 880 050 00 or Barnardo’s National Counter-Trafficking Service 0800 043 4303 for hands-on support.

Mental Health Support

Catch it – mobile app for anxiety and depression…

‘Catch It’ is a free NHS app which uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help  improve and manage feelings like anxiety, depression, anger, or confusion.

The app could be a first step before speaking with a doctor or professional, when the individual  feels like they are struggling and want to try and help themself and may not be ready to share this with anyone else.

The app will teach them how to look at problems in a different way, turn negative thoughts into positive ones and improve your mental wellbeing.

The app uses a ‘Catch It’, ‘Check It’ and ‘Change It’ process. 

• Catch It asks users to record and rate their moods in the app’s diary.
• Check It asks users to reflect on what they are thinking by answering questions to help users analyse and reflect on the situation that provoked the mood or worries.
• Change It asks users to find a better way to deal with a problem and try and work towards a possible solution.
• ​​​Aims to improve mental wellbeing by using CBT techniques and regularly logging and reflecting on mood and thoughts.

Users are then provided with a narrative description of what happened when the mood occurred, and what ‘automatic thoughts’ they had at the time. Users are encouraged to re-frame the situation in a different way by taking a moment to reflect on their mood entry.

They are also asked if the strength of the mood has changed by again rating their mood on a scale of 1-5 and possible triggers on how it affected the change of mood.

Please note that the ‘Catch It’ app is not a substitute for professional mental health care or intended for individuals in an emergency. If they are in an emergency situation, please immediately access emergency services. 

For other mental health resources, please find a local NHS mental health helpline, or get support from mental health charities.

Help & how to get started!

• ​Search for the ‘Catch It’ app on the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)
• For more information, visit the Catch It NHS webpage

Prevent and Radicalisation

The current national terrorist threat level is ‘substantial’, which is defined as ‘an attack is likely’. This level has been unchanged since February 2022 and is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5).

For more information: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/14f14792/-Th5BW_5KE2g2LI_bMOxMA?u=https://www.gov.uk/terrorism-national-emergency

Right Wing Terrorist Found Guilty of Planning an Attack

A 19 year old man from Washington, Tyne & Wear, was convicted in May of preparing to carry out an act of terrorism. He will be sentenced for the crime in June.

Following a two-week trial at Teesside Crown Court, the jury found Luke Skelton guilty of one offence under Section 5 (1) of the Terrorism Act 2006; engaging in conduct in preparation of a terrorist act.

Skelton was charged in November 2021 following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, supported by Northumbria Police.

The evidence showed that the defendant openly supported and adopted an extreme right wing ideology. He not only wrote about his plans to commit a terrorist act but went as far as carrying out hostile reconnaissance by researching and visiting potential targets.

The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East commented: “The defendant’s anger towards society, together with his extreme right-wing views, created a dangerous foundation from which his sinister plans were ultimately built. He was strongly motivated by this mindset, which continued to fuel his actions and his later offending, despite repeated attempts to draw him away from it. The evidence clearly demonstrated that he was not just a person who held strong views but a terrorist who wanted to cause serious harm.”

For more information, please visit: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/f0998d25/aPnaXQnfLE_o25hffgcQhw?u=https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/right-wing-terrorist-found-guilty-of-planning-an-attack/

Local Risks . Top reported crimes for our regions

To help you identify local risks we will be including in each bulletin the top reported crimes for some of our regions. 

By using the link you can drill down further into postcode areas.

The following were the most commonly reported crimes during the month of March 2023:

Statistics taken from https://link.edgepilot.com/s/5f83c957/k3XTL1EsmUOyCVsiA0JIeQ?u=https://www.police.uk/

Awareness Campaigns for June

Mens Mental Health June 12^th – 18^th – Men’s Health and the Internet

The CAN DO Challenge is a great way to boost mental wellbeing by doing all the five ways to wellbeing.

The five ways are:

• Connect – connect with other people (e.g., call an old friend or family member) 
• (Be) Active – move your body (e.g., go for a run/walk/swim/dance/etc)
• Notice – take notice of the environment around you (e.g., turn off your phone for an hour and look around) 
• Discover – learn something new (e.g., read a book you haven’t read before)
• Offer (or give) – do something for someone else (e.g., volunteer for a local community group) 

The CAN-DO Challenge | Men’s Health Forum (menshealthforum.org.uk)

LGBT+ Pride Month 1^st – 30^th June

LGBT Pride Month is a month, typically June, dedicated to celebration and commemoration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride, observed in the Western world. Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests in 1969, and has since spread outside of the United States.

Pride Month 2023: Origins, Parades & Dates | HISTORY

Prevent and Radicalisation

The current national terrorist threat level is ‘substantial’, which is defined as ‘an attack is likely’. This level has been unchanged since February 2022 and is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5).

For more information: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/db1452a0/LK5ttdRpFU_oP8M-NYpCfA?u=https://www.gov.uk/terrorism-national-emergency

Huddersfield Man Sentenced for Distributing Hateful Material

A man from Huddersfield who placed offensive stickers around the town has been sentenced to 27 months imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court earlier in March.

Steven Donovan pleaded guilty in February to a number of offences including stirring up racial hatred, dissemination of terrorist material and possession of a knife. He was also convicted of possessing racially inflammatory material and possession of extreme pornography.

In May 2020, a PCSO on routine patrol came across a large number of stickers and some graffiti in and around Greenhead Park in Huddersfield. The officer raised their concerns, and an investigation was launched by Counter Terrorism Policing North East. Further investigations also found that the same person had been posting and sharing extreme right wing material online.

Donovan was arrested in June 2020 and charged in August 2021.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jim Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) NE, said:

“Communities in West Yorkshire work tirelessly alongside agencies such as the police to ensure our towns and cities are welcoming and inclusive to people of all backgrounds. Those that seek to bring hatred to our communities and disrupt cohesion through criminal activities will be tracked down and brought before the courts. We must stand together by challenging hateful extremist attitudes and trusting our instincts by reporting concerning or suspicious behaviour to the police.”

For more information about this, please visit:

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/31a5874d/ntSv7vxIMUuF2STx1LMOQQ?u=https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/huddersfield-man-sentenced-for-distributing-hateful-material/

Top reported crimes for our regions

To help you better identify local risks we will be including in each bulletin the top reported crimes for some of our regions. 

For information about your region use the link below, you can also drill down further into postcode areas.

The following were the most commonly reported crimes during the month of January 2023:

Some examples of public order offences.

• rioting.
• affray.
• drunk and disorderly behaviour.
• inciting racial or religious hatred.
• assaulting emergency workers.

Antisocial behaviour is defined as ‘behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as the person’ 

• Personal antisocial behaviour is when a person targets a specific individual or group.
• Nuisance antisocial behaviour is when a person causes trouble, annoyance or suffering to a community.
• Environmental antisocial behaviour is when a person’s actions affect the wider environment, such as public spaces or buildings.

Statistics taken from https://link.edgepilot.com/s/215d324d/UswHx1nqLUWdn0AtBy-JqQ?u=https://www.police.uk/

Autism world acceptance week

The Autism world acceptance week yearly event runs from 27^th March to the 2^nd April 2023, the aim of the event is to help more people understand what autism is, as well as the ways it can affect day to day life for autistic people. The event is also a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness and acceptance of autism.

The “Light It Up Blue” campaign championed by ‘autism speaks’ set out that every April 2^nd during ‘World Autism Awareness week’, people from all walks of life embrace the colour light blue.

Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is a lifelong condition that can affect a person’s social skills, such as communication and the way they interact with other people, and how they deal with sights, sounds and changes in the world around them. It is estimated that there are around 700,000 autistic people in the UK, and worldwide about one in 100 children have autism.

A person with autism may:

• be non-verbal, or struggle to verbally communicate.
• speak musically or hum.
• make sounds or babble.
• repeat words that have been heard.
• appear to be fluent communicators but lack complete understanding.

Autism is known as an invisible disability because you cannot tell just by looking at someone that they have autism. Autism can present itself in many ways in different people and all autistic people will likely have different experiences of how ASC impacts on them.

Help and support…

The National Autistic Society have 116 volunteer-led branches and offer online community peer support, there is also a free autism services directory with online advice and guidance to find the answers and help you are looking for.

You can find ways of getting involved in the awareness week on the National autistic society website listed below, there is advice on ways to fundraise, sponsor and take part in planned walking events across the UK. You can also donate online to support the cause and raising awareness of autism.

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/dfddee1b/eLtQmTfMk0604uIG71-1Qw?u=https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/raise-money/world-autism-acceptance-week-2023/world-autism-acceptance-week-faq.

The specialist helpline who can offer support with specific challenges on 0207 833 2299 (Monday to Friday 9am-12pm and 1-3pm)

For general enquiries you can email- [email protected]

Raising Awareness of Male Domestic Violence – Mankind 

In the vast majority of cases domestic abuse it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men. Yet the reality is that men too can be affected by domestic violence, and in general are far less likely to come forward for help.

The Mankind Initiative is a UK organization, seeking to raise awareness of Female-to-Male domestic violence, with a view to helping more men get out of abuse relationships. The Mankind organization, was the first such organization in the UK dating back to 2001 and they’re still going strong. For further  information, advice and support  please follow the link below: 

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/8c8a1d08/sOzXykZP10edO_DcLmJN4A?u=http://www.mankind.org.uk/

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/3f6cc875/6M_xvt1trEaMj2tl4Tno4Q?u=https://mensadviceline.org.uk/male-victims/

Report Remove Tool

The NSPCC has published guidance for professionals supporting young people to report nudes shared online using the Report Remove tool. Professionals can support young people to use the tool, which can help them to take down nude or sexual images and videos. The young person can choose to access emotional support from Childline, and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) can try to remove the image or video. The guidance includes information on how professionals can talk to young people about the tool, before they need to use it

How it works

Report Remove can help to take down nude or sexual images that include at least one of the following:

• nude or semi-nude sexual posing
• someone nude or semi-nude touching themselves in a sexual way
• any sexual activity involving a child
• someone hurting someone else sexually
• sexual activity that includes animals.

Remember, you should never view the image.

Supporting young people to take down nudes shared online

On Sunday 23 April 2023, there will be a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service.

Emergency Alerts is a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a danger to life nearby. In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe

The government does not need to know your phone number or location to send you an alert.

Reasons you might get an alert

You may get alerts about:

• severe flooding
• fires
• extreme weather

Emergency alerts will only be sent by:

• the emergency services
• government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies

What happens when you get an emergency alert

Your mobile phone or tablet may:

• make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent
• vibrate
• read out the alert

The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

An alert will include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more information.

You’ll get alerts based on your current location – not where you live or work. You do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts.

What you need to do

When you get an alert, stop what you’re doing and follow the instructions in the alert.

If you’re driving or riding when you get an alert

• You should not read or otherwise respond to an emergency alert whilst driving or riding a motorcycle.
• If you are driving, you should continue to drive and not respond to the noise or attempt to pick up the mobile phone and deal with the message.
• Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. If there is nowhere safe or legal to stop close by, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, tune into live radio and wait for bulletins until you can find somewhere safe and legal to stop.

It is illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding.

Prevent and Radicalisation

The UK Threat level of a possible terrorist attack remains at Substantial, which means an attack is likely.

To put into context what this treat level means here is a case of terrorist activity in our region.

Man from Cumbria sentenced for terrorism offences after undercover investigation.

Earlier in February, a 23-year-old man has been given a seven-year custodial sentence at Preston Crown Court for committing seven terrorism offences.

In July 2022 Kurt McGowan of Workington in Cumbria pleaded guilty to seven terrorism offences at Preston Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to four offences contrary to S58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (collecting information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism) and three offences contrary to S2 of the Terrorism Act 2006 (Disseminating Terrorist Publications).

McGowan was arrested in March 2021 by Counter Terrorism Policing North-East after an undercover investigation infiltrated him spreading extreme right-wing material on racist online chat groups.

His digital devices were seized and reviewed by officers. They were found to contain instructional documents for firearms and explosives. Some of which McGowan had disseminated online.

Experts considered this literature and its potential use to a terrorist and concluded “it was designed to encourage and skill members to take action to advance their cause”.

To help to understand and identify radicalisation risks with your learners, you can visit the government’s dedicated Prevent Duty site:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-prevent-duty-safeguarding-learners-vulnerable-to-radicalisation/understanding-and-identifying-radicalisation-risk-in-your-education-setting

Here you will find more information around the current terrorism risks, plus the different types of threats and how children, young people and adults may find themselves becoming radicalised and the signs to look out for.

Online Safety

The NSPCC has published a news story on online child sexual abuse in the UK. Findings from a Freedom of Information request show a 66% increase in child abuse image offences recorded by UK police in the past 5 years. The news story reports that in 2021/22 Snapchat, was the most commonly named site being used to share child abuse images, mentioned in 43% of cases where this information was recorded. The NSPCC is calling on the government to create a statutory child safety advocate to put children’s experiences at the front and centre of decision making.

Read the news story: We’re calling for effective action in the Online Safety Bill as child abuse image crimes reach record levels

JusTalk app – safeguarding concerns

JusTalk is a free social networking platform that hosts video, voice and group calling messaging features, similar to popular messaging platform WhatsApp.

Schools and safeguarding professionals are reporting that children and young people are receiving harmful and inappropriate messages on the JusTalk app. 

Although WhatsApp is also a free messaging service, there are several reasons why young people may turn to JusTalk instead.

As well as the different age ratings (WhatsApp is for 16+), the app itself is more interactive, with games and ‘doodling’ and features that could be considered more appealing to young people. It also has a social element that young people may feel other apps like WhatsApp are lacking. 

Features of JusTalk

• Text one-to-one or in a group of up to 200 members.
• Make calls one-to-one or in a group of up to 50 members.
• Users can ‘doodle’ on faces and play games together during calls.
• Images, voices and videos can be shared.
• Users can share their location.
• In-app purchases of premium services.
• Premium features include the ability to record and store calls within the app.

JusTalk comes in two different versions: one for children aged under 13-years-old (called JusTalk Kids) and one for people aged 13+ (called JusTalk).

What are some of the potential risks of JusTalk?

ID Sharing

Users are sharing their I.D. on other sites and platforms, like Reddit, in order to gain new friends. Unlike many other platforms, the risks associated with JusTalk mainly occur after a ‘friend’ is added (including with someone they might know ‘in real life’).

Image and content sharing

Information can be gleaned from an otherwise-innocent looking photo: a school blazer on show tells others where to find them five days a week; hockey sticks, paintbrushes or Fortnite posters gives groomers conversational starters; and a letter on the desk in the background tells where home is. Images and videos could also be recorded without the subject being aware.

Location sharing

As the app allows chats for up to 50 participants, there is a risk that a young person could share their location with someone they don’t really know – because the user in the chat group is a friend of a friend, they might feel like a ‘safe’ person.

Bullying and harassment

As the app allows for such large numbers of participants in chats and calls, there is a risk of ‘ganging up’ against one or a smaller group of people. This form of bullying can sometimes occur as a result of the perpetrators feeling less personally responsible when there are others taking part, too.

Third party advertising

The JusTalk app includes third party advertising, with apps like Tinder and adverts for gambling being featured frequently. This may encourage young people to visit those platforms, especially if they believe these apps have been ‘okayed’ by JusTalk.

For more information, please visit https://ineqe.com/2023/02/08/what-is-the-justalk-app/

Domestic Abuse

We define domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. Whilst men can be victims of domestic abuse in the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse [2].
• Physical or sexual abuse.
• Financial or economic abuse.
• Harassment and stalking.
• Online or digital abuse.

Recognising domestic abuse

Although every situation is unique, there are common factors that link the experience of an abusive relationship. Acknowledging these factors is an important step in preventing and stopping the abuse.

See the attachment to this bulletin for the list that can help you to recognise if you, or someone you know, are in an abusive relationship.

Getting help and support

All forms of domestic abuse are not acceptable in any situation. If you’re experiencing domestic abuse and feel frightened of, or controlled by, a partner, an ex-partner or family member, it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault and there is no shame in seeking help.

It may seem like a difficult step to take, but there is support available and #YouAreNot Alone.

Free, confidential support and advice is available to victims and their concerned family members or friends, 24 hours a day.

Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline    0808 2000 247
Online live chat webform

For free, confidential advice, 24 hours a day contact a domestic abuse helpline.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you can’t speak and are calling on a mobile press 55 to have your call transferred to the police.

Find out how to call the police when you can’t speak.

The Impact.

Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on children and young people that can last into adulthood . Clink here for more information on the impact on children and young people

Impact on children and young people – Women’s Aid (womensaid.org.uk)

Understanding child brain development | NSPCC Learning

Marie Curie Daffodil Appeal. 23rd March

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity, they provide frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement.

National Day of Reflection

On 23 March 2023, the great daffodil appeal has a mission to bring people together to connect to remember loved ones who have died to cancer, and support people who are looking after a loved one and those that are grieving.

Get ‘involved and active’ this spring with the Marie Curie Step into Spring challenge!

Your challenge is simple: walk 10,000 steps every day in March and raise money to help families get the end of life care they need.

For more information about the appeal and how you may get involved click onto the Marie Curie website here. Great Daffodil Appeal 2023 (mariecurie.org.uk)

You can find more information about Marie Curie and the range of support they can offer here Information and support (mariecurie.org.uk)

Happy New Year and welcome to our first bulletin of the year, topics for this month:

Children’s Mental Health Week

Children’s Mental Health Week is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about children and young people’s mental health and will take place from 6-12 February 2023. This year’s theme is Let’s Connect. 

Human beings thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing, and our survival. When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health.  

Let’s Connect is about making meaningful connections for all, during Children’s Mental Health Week – and beyond. 

For more information and free resources to help you take part, checkout:

https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/

As parents and carers, you play an important role in your child’s mental health for more information and free resources checkout:

https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/families/

Safer Internet Day 2023

Safer Internet Day 2023 will take place on the 7th of February 2023, with celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online’.

Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, the celebration sees thousands of organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible, and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

In the UK, we are celebrating by putting children and young people’s voices at the heart of the day and encouraging them to shape the online safety support that they receive.

For this reason, the organisers of Safer Internet Day 2023 are asking parents, carers, teachers, government, policymakers, and the wider online safety industry to take time to listen to children and young people and make positive change together.

This year they are hoping to answer the following questions:

• What issues really matter to children and young people?
• What changes do they want to see?
• How can we all work together to advocate for them moving forward?

You can find out more about Safer Internet Day 2023 at https://saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2023, plus the other work that UK Safer Internet Centre do in helping children and young people stay safe online.

Time to Talk

It is ‘Time to Talk’ awareness day on Thursday 2 February, run by Rethink Mental Illness and Mind.

One in four people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, it is not as uncommon as you may think. Mental health is a state of psychological and emotional well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, which influences personal perception, behaviours, and how we think, feel and act.

That is why ‘Time to Talk’ was introduced to help end mental health discrimination.

Conversations have the power to change lives, they help to create supportive communities, where people can talk openly about mental health struggles and feel empowered to seek help when they need it. 

What are the 5 symptoms of poor mental health?

-Excessive fears or worries

-Extreme feelings of guilt and hopelessness

-Significant mood changes of highs and lows

-Withdrawal from friends and routine activities

-Significant tiredness, low energy and or problems with sleeping

Five warning signs of mental illness that people miss…

-Constant fatigue, this should not come as a surprise but living with mental illness can be exhausting.

-Physical pain

-Perfectionism

-Lack of emotion or awareness of actions

-Avoidance often with family and friends

If someone does open up about their mental health, we know it might not always feel easy to know what to say. But it doesn’t have to be awkward, and being there for someone can make a big difference.

There is no right way to talk about mental health; however, these tips can help make sure you’re approaching it in a helpful way.

1 Ask questions and listen.

Asking questions can give the person space to express how they’re feeling and what they’re going through, and it will help you to understand their experience better. Try to ask questions that are open and not leading or judgmental, like “how does that affect you?” or “what does it feel like?”

2 Think about the time and place

Sometimes it’s easier to talk side by side rather than face to face. So, if you do talk in person, you might want to chat while you are doing something else. You could start a conversation when you’re walking, cooking or stuck in traffic. However, don’t let the search for the perfect place put you off!

3 Don’t try and fix it

It can be hard to see someone you care about having a difficult time but try to resist the urge to offer quick fixes to what they’re going through. Learning to manage or recover from a mental health problem can be a long journey, and they’ve likely already considered lots of different tools and strategies. Just talking can be really powerful, so unless they’ve asked for advice directly, it might be best just to listen.

4 Treat them the same

When someone has a mental health problem, they’re still the same person as they were before. And that means when a friend or loved one opens up about mental health, they don’t want to be treated any differently. If you want to support them, keep it simple. Do the things you’d normally do.

5 Be patient

No matter how hard you try, some people might not be ready to talk about what they’re going through. That’s ok – the fact that you’ve tried to talk to them about it may make it easier for them to open up another time.

‘Rethink mental illness’ have a mission to deliver a better life for people affected by mental illness. On the Rethink website, https://www.rethink.org/ there is a tab you can click ‘help in your area’ where you can type in your postcode this will provide local /the nearest peer support groups, services, and advice lines to get you the support you need.

For more information please visit the website at Time to Talk Day (rethink.org)

The Rethink national helpline number is 0808 801 0525 open Monday-Friday 9.30-1pm (excluding Bank holidays)

You can also start your conversation on social media with #TimeToTalk

If you would prefer to email use [email protected], they aim to respond within 3 working days. 

Introduction of the new Protect Duty (Martyn’s Law)

On Monday 19 December, the Government announced details for the Protect Duty, now to be known as ‘Martyn’s Law’ in tribute of Martyn Hett, who was killed alongside 21 others in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017.

How will it work?  

The Bill will impose a duty on the owners and operators of certain locations to increase their preparedness for and protection from a terrorist attack by requiring them to take proportionate steps, depending on the size and nature of the activities that take place there.  

Proportionality is a fundamental consideration for this legislation. It will therefore establish a tiered model, linked to the activity that takes place at a location and its capacity:  

A standard tier will drive good preparedness outcomes. Duty holders will be required to undertake simple yet effective activities to improve protective security and preparedness. This will apply to qualifying locations with a maximum capacity of over 100. This could include larger retail stores, bars, or restaurants.  

An enhanced tier will see additional requirements placed on high-capacity locations in recognition of the potential catastrophic consequences of a successful attack. This will apply to locations with a capacity of over 800 people at any time. This could include live music venues, theatres, and department stores. 

Early indications are that JTM would be classed as a standard tier organisation.

What will the standard tier be asked to do?   

Standard tier organisations will need to undertake easy and simple activities to meet their obligations. This will include completion of free training, awareness raising and cascading of information to staff and completion of a preparedness plan.   

The aim is to ensure staff are better prepared to respond quickly to evolving situations, aware of what processes they should follow, able to make rapid decisions and carry out actions that will save lives. This could be as simple as locking doors to delay attackers progress and access whilst guiding staff and customers to alternative exits. It could also enable lifesaving treatment to be administered by staff whilst awaiting the arrival of emergency services.  

How will Martyn’s Law be enforced?  

An inspection capability will be established to seek to educate, advise, and ensure compliance with the Duty. Where necessary, the inspectorate will use a range of sanctions to ensure that breaches are effectively dealt with. 

Why introduce this new legislation to replace the Prevent Duty? 

The Manchester Arena Inquiry Volume One Report strongly recommended the introduction of a duty to improve the safety and security of public venues.   

The London Bridge and Borough Market inquests also recommended the introduction of legislation which would govern the duties of public authorities regarding protective security.  

When will this important legislation be introduced? 

The Government will introduce the Protect Duty as soon as parliamentary time allows. 

When will the Protect Duty become law? 

It is not possible to give a date. There will be a lead in time allowing for those captured by the Duty to prepare for commencement, and as soon as the parliamentary timetable is known this will be set out. 

ADHD Foundation

On 6th February, the ADHD Foundation will run a webinar for parents/carers and grandparents of primary-aged children to help them help their children develop a love of reading for pleasure at home.   
The webinars are free and will last no more than an hour.     

  
Find out more here

read reflect connect v1.3 (mcusercontent.com)

Topics for this month:

Updated Prevent Duty

The government have updated and redeveloped its resources for educational establishments in England, including independent training providers like JTM, around the Prevent Duty.

The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation

The guidance is for those who working in education settings who have safeguarding responsibilities for keeping children, young people and adult learners safe in schools, colleges and further education independent training providers.

The guidance is designed to explain the Prevent referral process and the statutory responsibilities to keep children, young people and adult learners safe from the risk of extremist ideology or radicalisation; and will prepare DSLs and other staff, to respond effectively and get support for people who may be being exploited by radicalising influences.

Sections to read in the new guidance include:

The Prevent duty: an introduction for those with safeguarding responsibilities.

Within this section, you will find staff responsibilities in relation to the Prevent duty, including spotting any concerning changes in behaviour that may indicate a safeguarding concern. If staff have any concerns about a child, young person or adult learner’s welfare, they should speak to their Safeguarding Team immediately. You will also find information in this section around the online training.

You can view the updated Prevent Duty website here:

The Prevent duty: an introduction for those with safeguarding responsibilities – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Understanding and identifying radicalisation risk in your education setting.

This section provides further information on the types of radicalisation risks and how children, young people and adult learners may become vulnerable to radicalisation. You will also find links to resources to help explain and identify the different types of extremist threat to the people that you are working with.

Please visit the following link for more details:

Understanding and identifying radicalisation risk in your education setting – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Attack at Dover immigration centre

Counter Terrorism Policing Southeast (CTPSE), who have been working with Kent Police since the initial notification of this incident, have recovered evidence that indicates the attack at an immigration centre in Dover on Sunday 30 October 2022, was motivated by a terrorist ideology.

During the attack, a number of crude incendiary devices were thrown outside the premises by a man who arrived at the scene alone in a car, with two people subsequently receiving injuries.

A number of significant witnesses have been spoken to during the course of the investigation and a number of items of interest have been recovered, including digital media devices. Evidence from examining these items suggests there was an extreme right-wing motivation behind the attack. 

There is currently nothing to suggest the offender was working alongside anyone else and there is not believed to be any wider threat to the public. 

As part of the government’s newly-updated Prevent duty for educational establishments, such as JTM, you will find information around the different types of radicalisation and extremism, and how children, young people and adult learners become vulnerable to these.

Movember

Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide.

Men’s health is in crisis. Men are dying on average 4.5 years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons.

A growing number of men – around 10.8M globally – are facing life with a prostate cancer diagnosis. Globally, testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men. And across the world, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day, with males accounting for 69% of all suicides.

Movember is uniquely placed to address this crisis on a global scale. Movember fund ground-breaking projects all over the world, engaging men where they are to understand what works best and accelerate change.

Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up research and motivating men to take action for their health.

For more information, please visit: https://uk.movember.com/

Christmas Jumper Day 2022

What is Christmas Jumper Day?

Christmas Jumper Day is Save the Children’s annual event which raises money for children in the UK and across the world. Every December, millions of people across the United Kingdom (and beyond!) put on a festive outfit at their workplace, school or with friends and make a donation to help give children the magical future they deserve.

When is Christmas Jumper Day?

Christmas Jumper Day is on Thursday 8 December and JTM will be taking part so look out for our Christmas Jumper pictures on social media!

When was the first Christmas Jumper Day?

Since 2012, millions of people have put on their jazziest jumpers for one day in December, donated £2 to Save the Children, and helped make the world better for children in the UK and around the world.

This year is going to be the best yet. This year, the UK government’s promised to give the same amount as you give. Every time you give £2 to Save the Children, they give £2.

Double the funds, double the fun!

With all that extra cash, Save the Children can totally work its magic in Kenya, where, every year, 74,000 children die before reaching the age of five.

They will help mums-to-be, new mums, tiny babies and bigger kids get the food and medicine they need to be strong and healthy. This will be around 200,000 people that will be helped – just by wearing a super-Christmassy sweater!

For more information please visit:

https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/christmas-jumper-day

Anti- bullying Week

We are a little late in  covering this but the messages and information promoted are useful and important at any time.

Anti – bullying week took  place from 14 to 18 November 2022 and had the theme Reach Out.

Reach out to someone you trust if you need to talk. Reach out to someone you know is being bullied. Reach out and consider a new approach.

This year’s theme aims to empower  people to do something positive to counter harm and hurt that bullying causes. From kids to teachers, influencers to parents, this year’s theme aims to involve everyone. “It takes courage, but it can change lives.

How to help someone being bullied.

People who are being bullied can feel really distressed and it can have a serious impact on their life and health. In very serious cases bullying could lead to self-harming, or even suicidal thoughts. Often other people don’t realise the effect that bullying has when it goes on day in day out.

You may be wondering how you can help someone who is experiencing bullying. There are usually quite a lot of pointers that someone is being bullied and if you see or hear any of them you’re in a good position to help. Below is some things you can do if you are worried that a friend is experiencing bullying at school.

• If you are at school, let a teacher know what you suspect 
• If you are in a workplace, maybe let your colleague know that you are there for them
• Go with the person being bullied and back up what they say to the teacher
• Tell the person being bullied that you’ll can help them to tell their parents 
• Tell your parents or an adult you trust 
• Agree with your friends that you will all make it clear to the person doing the bullying that you don’t like what they’re doing
• Keep a diary of what you see going on so that you can give a reliable account of what has been happening

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is when someone bullies others using electronic means. This might involve social media and messaging services on the internet that are accessed on a mobile phone, tablet or gaming platform. The behaviour is usually repeated and at times can be as subtle as leaving someone out of a group chat or cropping them out of a picture.

One of the biggest differences between cyberbullying and face-to-face bullying is that cyberbullying can be hard to get away from. Bullying can happen anywhere, anytime – even when at home.

Bullying at work 

Bullying at work can take shape or form in many different ways. If you feel as though you are experiencing bullying in the workplace, this can be a very devastating and distressing issue and bullying can affect your emotional health. You may be feeling very low and anxious at the thought of going to work and facing the individual or group that may be subjecting you to this and the bullying may also be affecting family life. Click on the links for help where there is lots of workplace bullying advice that may help including help on writing letters of complaint and more. 

For more information, advice and someone to talk to please visit:

https://www.familylives.org.uk/

How to report scam texts and mobile calls to Ofcom via 7726

Criminals often impersonate legitimate organisations in an attempt to dupe their victims and leave them out of pocket. So it’s important to be extra cautious if you receive a text message about a parcel you may be expecting, for example, or a call claiming to be from your bank.

Ofcom research found that eight in ten people experienced some form of phone scam last summer, but fewer than two in ten reported them to the relevant authorities.

But there’s an easy, free service you can use to report suspicious texts or calls you might receive on your mobile, called 7726.

What is 7726?

7726 is a number that most mobile customers using UK networks can text to report unwanted SMS messages or phone calls on a mobile. The number ‘7726’ was chosen because it spells ‘SPAM’ on an alphanumeric phone keypad, which is a handy way of remembering it.

Ofcom have provided the videos below to instruct you on how to report scam texts and calls:

How to forward a scam text to 7726 on an iPhone: https://youtu.be/wb-FaJmjJaI

How to forward a scam text to 7726 on an Android: https://youtu.be/B7LY1NmYCsw

How to forward a scam mobile call to 7726 on an iPhone: https://youtu.be/XxYSPseveYk

How to forward a scam mobile call to 7726 on an Android: https://youtu.be/-VCe8GgXWv0

Armistice Day

Date: 11th November

This is when the Great War, or world war one, came to an end in 1918. Today this anniversary is used to remember everyone that has died while at war. This includes World War Two, the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the middle east and ongoing conflicts across the world.

International Men’s Day

Date: 19th November

A global grassroots movement celebrated in over 80 countries, that invites every man, women, girl and boy in the world to come together and celebrate men and boys in all their diversity, irrespective of their age, ability, social background, ethnicity, gender identity, religious belief and relationship status.

https://internationalmensday.com/

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Date: 20th November

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20th that honours the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of
anti-transgender violence.

Elimination of Violence Against Women’s Day

Date: 25th November

Raises awareness of women who are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence.

www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk

UK Disability History Month

Date: 18th November to 20th December

(UKDHM) is an annual event creating a platform to focus on the history of our struggle for equality and human rights.

www.ukdhm.org/what-is-ukdhm

Islamophobia Awareness Month

Date: All month

Islamophobia Awareness Month highlights the threat of Islamophobic hate crimes and showcases the positive contributions of British Muslims to society.

www.islamophobia-awareness.org

“Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it. Whenever it is taken from something, it leaves it tarnished”

Prophet Muhammad

Special Days

1st November

• All Saints Day – (Christian)

2nd November

• All Souls Day – (Christian)

5th November

• Guy Fawkes Day

8th November

• Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev – (Sikh)

11th November

• Armistice Day – (Interfaith)

13-19th November

• Transgender Awareness Week

13th November

• World Kindness Day
• Remembrance Sunday

14th November

• World Diabetes Day

18th-20th Dec

• UK Disability History Month

19th November

• International Men’s Day

20th November

• Universal Children’s Day
• Transgender Day of remembrance

21st November

• Entrance into the Temple of the Theotokos – (Orthodox Christian)

24th November

• Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur – (Sikh)

25th November

• International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

28th November

• First Sunday of Advent – (Christian)

30th November

• Saint Andrew’s Day – (Christian)

Topics for this month:

October is a busy month for awareness raising campaigns and we are highlighting just a few of them in this month’s edition.

ADHD- awareness month

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, will act without thinking and they may have trouble concentrating and act on impulse.

The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been shown to run in families. ADHD can occur in people of any intellectual ability, although it’s more common in people with learning difficulties. Most cases are diagnosed when children are 3 to 7 years old, but sometimes the condition is diagnosed later, and not recognised until later in life as an adult.

The symptoms of ADHD usually improve with age, but many adults who were diagnosed with the condition at a young age continue to experience problems and face challenges. People with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety disorders.

However, in the UK and Europe, around 90% of adults and young people with ADHD are undiagnosed, especially girls and women. In England only 0.35% of girls and 1.5% of boys are receiving treatment, compared with a global average of 5.3% of children.

Therefore, raising awareness of ADHD is so vitally important and lots of extensive research is being carried out to improve diagnoses, get the message out about the condition and develop the right structured support for people with ADHD.

ADHD is best treated using a combination of different medical and therapeutic interventions, along lifestyle support and services. The combination of intervention and support should be tailored to the needs of the individual.

Hyperactivity and impulsiveness can also be presented as follows-

-being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings.

-being unable to concentrate on tasks.

-excessive physical movement.

-excessive talking and interrupting others

-being unable to wait their turn.

-Difficulty focusing

Common causes of ADHD

-Brain injury.

-Exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age.

-Alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy.

-Premature delivery.

-Low birth weight.

Things that can help ADHD:

-organisation and time management, using tools to help.

-following instructions step by step

-focusing and completing tasks

-coping with stress

-Get plenty of exercise. …

-Take activity breaks. …

-Learn to meditate. …

-Pay attention to all the good things about you.

For more information, please click the link below for the ADHD.UK website, where you can find out more about ADHD, and get involved in their fundraising, as well as access resources and newsletters to help someone with ADHD.

There is also a diagnosis pathway page to help you get help if you feel you may have ADHD and need some advice and support.

ADHD UK | ADHD UK

Go Sober for October

Taking a break from drinking is a great way to give your body a break from alcohol, and it has lots of benefits.

Every year, Macmillan runs a Sober October campaign to encourage people to go alcohol-free in October to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Have you been sober in October?

What to expect when you give up alcohol

If you’ve decided to give up alcohol, you might be surprised how quickly you start to notice some of the benefits.

• A better night’s sleep

Alcohol can disrupt your sleep pattern meaning you spend less time in more restful deep sleep.

• More energy

Hangover-free and refreshed you’re likely to have more energy. Maybe now is the time to take up a new hobby or kick-start a fitness regime?

• Weight loss

You might have already started to notice some weight loss. Alcoholic drinks are high in empty calories and regularly adding lots of extra calories on top of your recommended daily intake can make it difficult to maintain or lose weight.

• Save money

When you stop spending money on alcohol, you’ll be saving yourself money. Why not treat yourself to something nice to celebrate sticking to your Sober October goals?

Top three tips for a successful Sober October

1. Understand the effects of alcohol

Understanding what effect alcohol has on your mind and body can help motivate you to stay on track. From heart health to anxiety and depression alcohol can have a wide-ranging effect on our bodies.

2. Alcohol-free alternatives

Sparkling mineral water is great – but there are many other alcohol alternatives out there. Why not make a mocktail, try an alcohol-free beer or even one of the new alcohol-free ‘spirits’?

3. Tackle your triggers

Understand what prompts you to have a drink so you can stay in control and avoid old habits.

Beyond Sober October

A month off alcohol could be your chance to make lasting changes in the way you drink. Alcohol consumption is linked to seven types of cancer, and the more you drink the more your risk increases.

So just a few small changes to the way you approach alcohol could have a big effect on your long-term health, and how you feel.

One thing you might find after a period without drinking is that your tolerance to alcohol drops. So it might take less alcohol for you to feel its effects.

In order to keep the risks from drinking to a low level, make sure you stick within the low risk drinking guidelines of no more than 14 units a week, with at least three drink-free days.

Taking a break from alcohol is a great for your body and mind, so keep up the positive changes beyond October.

Visit Drink Aware to find out more and explore the resources available to help you to stay on track!

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/how-to-reduce-your-drinking/go-sober-for-october

Breast Cancer Awareness

With around 150 women being diagnosed with breast cancer every day, it is the most common form of cancer in the UK, the good news is about two thirds of women will survive for 20 years or more.

Although rarer, 390 men will also be diagnosed with breast cancer each year,

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is when abnormal cells in the breast begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way and eventually form a growth (tumour).

Breast cancer starts in the breast tissue, most commonly in the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast. It is the most common cancer in the UK. It mainly affects women, but men can get it too. 

Breast cancer symptoms

The first symptom of breast cancer most people notice is a lump in their breast or some thickening.

Breast symptoms to look out for:

• a new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
• a change in size, shape or feel of your breast
• skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin
• fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breast feeding
• changes in the position of the nipple

These symptoms listed here are more often caused by other medical conditions. But if you have any of them it is important to see your doctor.

More information around symptoms

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/symptoms

And for Men ……

The most common symptom is a lump in the chest area which is often painless.

Other symptoms of male breast cancer may include:

• Liquid, sometimes called discharge, that comes from the nipple without squeezing and which may be blood-stained
• A tender or inverted (pulled in) nipple
• Ulcers (sores) on the chest or nipple area
• Swelling of the chest area and occasionally the lymph nodes under the arm

For more information, advice, and support about breast cancer in men

https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/have-i-got-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-in-men

Further information 

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer

https://breastcancernow.org/get-involved/breast-cancer-awareness-month

For anyone affected by breast cancer you can find support, help and advice here

https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/support-you

To speak to a breast cancer care nurse tel:0808 800 6000

For information around other forms of cancer

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer

Cyber Security Awareness Month

October has been designated as Cyber Security Awareness Month and this year’s themes are Phishing and Ransomware.

We have included some tips below on the best methods to protect yourself from these types of cybersecurity threats.

Phishing

Tips on how to avoid being scammed by phishing emails:

• Look for poor grammar and unprofessional language
• Remember that cybercriminals push you to act urgently
• Look for links to malware sites. Never click on them!
• Don’t always trust the URL you see when clicking on a link
• Check the greeting on the email: cybercriminals never use your first and last name and the message is usually addressed to a generic recipient
• Look out for personal information questions, e.g. passwords, PIN, bank account details, National Insurance numbers etc
• These emails often include attachments with hidden malware. Never download them!
• Never trust promotional offers which look “too good to be true”

Ransomware

Tips on how to prevent yourself becoming a victim of ransomware:

• Never use unknown USB sticks. If you do not know where they came from, don’t connect them to your computer
• Never click on unknown links. Always double-check the URL of a link for anomalies, before clicking on them in spam messages or on unknown websites
• Never open suspicious email attachments. Don’t trust an email with information you have never asked for. You can fall victim to ransomware
• Be extra careful before opening unexpected emails. Always check the sender’s real address, as well as any attachment or hyperlink
• Perform system updates, as they are prompted on your laptop, or if your IT Department tells you to do so
• Use virus protection on all your devices. Install one which includes ransomware alerts and ensure you keep them always updated
• Follow your organisation policies regarding backups. It’s crucial that you always have backup copies of your files, preferably in the cloud or on an external hard drive
• Access your account safely. Use always strong passwords and enable two factor or multi-factor authentication

Black History Month

Date: All Month

is a month set aside to learn, honour, and celebrate the achievements of Black men and women throughout history, it has been marked in the UK for more than 30 years. It is held to highlight and celebrate the achievements and contributions of the Black Community in the UK.

It happens because so often in the past, the contributions made by black people to the community were ignored or played down because black people weren’t treated the same way as other people because of the colour of their skin. It aims to address this unfairness, by celebrating the achievements and contributions of the black community over the years.

www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Date: All Month

The month of October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month where we celebrate Down Syndrome and let everyone know our abilities and that we are capable of doing anything we set our minds to.

www.ndss.org

Dyslexia Awareness Week

Date: 3rd-9th October

Dyslexia awareness week is an annual event to raise awareness of dyslexia, including issues such as early identification and reasonable adjustments.

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/

International Day of Older Persons

Date: 1st October

Raises awareness about issues affecting the elderly and appreciates the contributions that older people make to society.

www.olderpeoplesday.co.uk

World Mental Health Awareness Day

Date: 10th October

Celebration of mental health education, awareness and advocacy.

www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Baby Loss Awareness Week

Date: 9th-15th October

Baby Loss Awareness Week is a wonderful opportunity to bring us together as a community and give anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss a safe and supportive space to share their experiences and feel that they are not alone.

https://babyloss-awarenss.org/

“A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything”

Malcolm X

Special Days

1st October

• International Day of Older Persons

2nd October

• International Day of Non Violence

4th October

• Feast of St. Francis of Assisi – (Christian)
• Dussehra – (Hindu holiday)

3rd-9th October

• World Dyslexia Awareness Week

4th-5th October

• Yom Kippur – (Jewish Holy Day)

7th-8th October

• Mawlid un Nabi – (Islamic observance)

9th October

• Birthday of Guru Ram Das – (Sikh)

9th-15th October

• Baby Loss Awareness Week

9th-16th October

• Sukkot – (Jewish holiday)

10th October

• World Mental Health Day

11th October

• National Coming Out Day

13th October

• World Sight Day

17th October

• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

16th-18th October

• Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah – (Jewish holiday)

18th October

• Anti-Slavery Day
• World Menopause Day

19th October

• International Pronouns Day

22nd October

• International Stammering Awareness Day

24th October

• Diwali – (Hindu)
• Bandhi Chhor Divas – (Sikh)

26th October

• Intersex Awareness Day

29th October

• World Stroke Day

30th October

• Daylight Saving Time Ends (clock change)

31st October

• Halloween