Category: Uncategorized (Page 1 of 8)

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- nas@nas.org.uk

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 advice@rethink.org, 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

Topics for this month:

Energy Bills phishing scam

With the cost-of-living crisis being at the forefront of a lot of minds, we have been made aware of a phishing scam that is currently doing the rounds. Potential victims are contacted by a scammer posing as ‘UK Help’ or GOVUK (multiple variations have been found) claiming to be from the official UK government. This is usually done via messaging service like iMessage.

The scam text will say something like ‘you are eligible for a discounted energy bill under the Energy Bills Support Scheme’ and provides a link for you to apply.

By clicking on the link, you are taken to a landing page that appears to be a legitimate UK Gov website – it is a clone of the official website.

You are then instructed to insert your full name, phone number, date of birth, home address, and email address which they claim will help “determine how much you are eligible for.”

The following page will ask for your energy supplier as well as your card number, expiry date, and ‘security’ code.

The end game for these scammers is to access your banking and/or private information, which they can use for their own financial gain. The details this scam asks you to provide could all be used to impersonate you and access to your accounts.

A similar scam that impersonates energy watchdog Ofgem has been circulating, with over 1500 reports already made to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). These scams are taking advantage of the current concern many households in the UK are feeling due to the cost-of-living crisis.

IMPORTANT – the £400 discount for the UK government energy bill discount for all households WILL be applied automatically when it is released. You will not have to register or apply for anything. No household will be asked for their bank details at any point. Please follow official government guidance.

You can find more information about the scam here, including what to do if you have already been targeted and given your details over: https://ineqe.com/2022/09/23/energy-bills-scam-important-information/

County Lines – Information and support

Following the recent spate of fatal shootings in Merseyside and London believed to be linked to organised crime, the August issue of this bulletin covered the issue of organised crime gangs and gun crime, we are continuing this theme this month with information and support links related to County Lines.

What is County Lines?

County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where urban gangs persuade, coerce or force children, young people or vulnerable adults to store drugs and money and/or transport them to suburban areas, market towns and coastal towns (Home Office, 2018). It can happen in any part of the UK and is against the law and a form of child abuse. Children, young people and adults may be criminally exploited in multiple ways. Other forms of criminal exploitation include sexual exploitation, trafficking, gang and knife crime.

County lines gangs are highly organised criminal networks that use sophisticated, frequently evolving techniques to groom young people or vulnerable adults and evade capture by the police.

Perpetrators use children, young people or vulnerable adults to maximise profits and distance themselves from the criminal act of physically dealing drugs. The vulnerable person does the majority of the work and take the most risk.

Dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal lines” are used to help facilitate county lines drug deals. Phones are usually cheap, disposable and old fashioned, because they are changed frequently to avoid detection by the police. Gangs use the phones to receive orders and contact and instruct where to deliver drugs. This may be to a local dealer or drug user, or a dealer or drug user in another county.

Risks

County lines is a cross-cutting issue that often overlaps with other forms of abuse and criminal exploitation. It can lead to serious physical and emotional harm to young people

Criminalisation

Lack of understand that county lines is a form of abuse, may result in seeing children/vulnerable adults involved in county lines activity as criminals rather than as victims of criminal exploitation this can lead to them not getting the safeguarding support and protection they need.

Drugs

Perpetrators may use drugs and alcohol to entice people into the gang lifestyle.In some cases, gangs trick people into incurring drug debts that they then have to pay off through county lines activity. This is often referred to as ‘debt bondage’.

Physical violence

There is a strong link between county lines activity and serious violence such as knife and gun crime, the use of substances such as acid as a weapon, homicide. The fear of serious physical violence as revenge for disrespecting, ‘snitching’ or ‘grassing’ is one of the things that prevents people from leaving gangs or seeking help from the police and other agencies.

Sexual abuse and exploitation

As well as being used to transport drugs, county lines gangs may sexually abuse and exploit children, young people or adults of any gender.

This can happen through:

• being forced into sexual activity with gang members or for the gang’s financial gain
• being made to work off drug debts through sexual exploitation as ‘payment’ (this might happen after the child has been coerced into becoming dependent on drugs by the gang)
• being groomed into what they believe is a romantic relationship with a gang member which then leads to exploitation
• Victims can be forced to transport drugs in ways that are invasive and harmful to their bodies. Young people may be forced to swallow bags of drugs to transport them, which could potentially be life threatening.

Trafficking and missing children

Young people can be trafficked to locations far away from where they live for long periods of time by a county lines gang. They may end up staying in unsuitable accommodation in an area that is unknown to them. This might include short term holiday lets or budget hotels.

Cuckooing

Cuckooing happens when a county lines gang takes over the home of a vulnerable adult by coercion or force and use it as a base to deal drugs from. The vulnerable adult may have issues with substance misuse or mental health problems, be elderly or disabled or be in debt to the gang. These factors can make it easier for the gang to exploit and control them.

Financial exploitation and abuse

Gangs are known to launder money from drug sales through another person’s bank account, either by using an existing account or forcing or persuading them to open a new one.

Grooming

Once they have identified a victim, the gang will make some form of contact and the grooming process will begin. This could be in person or via mobile phone. Social media profiles may also be used to glamourise gang life and entice young people.

Signs that a young person or adult may be involved in criminal exploitation

• frequently going missing from education/training or work.
• travelling to locations, or being found in areas they have no obvious connections with, including seaside or market towns
• acquiring money, clothes, accessories or mobile phones which they seem unable to account for
• withdrawing or having sudden changes in personality, behaviour or the language they use
• having relationships with controlling or older individuals and groups
• significant decline in education/training results or performance
• being isolated from peers or social networks
• self-harming or having significant changes in mental health.

Useful Links

• If you or anyone you know is affected by the issues mentioned on this page, here are some useful links you can explore for more information and support, if you have a concern for a learner contact the Safeguarding Team at JTM (contact details at the bottom of the page) or if in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.
• Childline
• Missing People – Safe Call
• Catch-22
• St Giles Trust – Peer Assist
• Know the Score

For further information about County Lines.

• County Lines – Fearless

Self-harm and Online Content

With the inquest into the death of Molly Russell taking place, there has been a lot in the news over the past weeks about the dangers of self-harm as well as suicide related content online. It is really important to have regular conversations with young people and learners about online use and things they can do to stay safe as well as what support options are available. Below is some advice for parents and professionals.

A Mindful Approach

While it is important to promote online safety to young audiences, it is safer to approach this with general messages about online safety, without referencing specific incidences. If you are forwarded warnings relating to self-harm and suicide, warning others may seem like the smart thing to do. However, sending warnings can draw unwanted attention towards the content and the potential harm it can bring. Please think carefully about what you share, minimise the exposure and don’t give young people something to look for.

Have Open Conversations

Talk about all their online activity. Let them share what they’re playing or looking at, rather than asking them whether they have seen or engaged with specific harmful content online. This approach may draw their interest to it or mean they do not talk about other concerning online activities. If young people express any concern or worries over content they have seen online, or posts or comments that friends or others have made, it is important to listen to them and offer support.

Providing information and signposting to sources of support

Is important for all young people at any time. It may also be useful to provide advice on how young people can support themselves and their friends. If you have concerns that someone is suicidal, useful information can be found on Samaritan’s website along with tips for discussing suicide safely online

Report Harmful Content Online

Stop the spread of harm by reporting self-harm and suicide content online. Social media sites and other platforms have direct reporting routes for this type of content and remember, you can visit Report Harmful Content to find out how to report harmful content online. Talk about how to report content, age restrictions on different sites and why they exist. Anyone over the age of 13 can make a report on Report Harmful Content. A practitioner will check submitted reports and provide further advice on actions they can take.

Further information and support

• Mind – call 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 (9am to 6pm on weekdays)
• Harmless – email info@harmless.org.uk
• Self-injury Support (for women and girls)
• CALM (for men)
• YoungMinds Parents Helpline – call 0808 802 5544 (9.30am to 4pm on weekdays)
• National Self Harm Network forums
• Self Harm | Feelings | Health for Teens
• Anxiety Leaflet

If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or are supporting someone else, the Staying Safe website provides information on how to make a safety plan. It includes video tutorials and online templates to guide you through the process.

Topics for this month:

Gun Violence and Organised Crime Gangs – Information and support

The recent spate of fatal shootings in Merseyside and London is believed to be linked to organised crime. The killing of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was the third death involving a gun in or around Liverpool this month.

There were also three deaths in London in July and a fourth in August.

If you, or someone you know, have been affected by gun violence, there are support services which may be able to help you.

Victim Support

Victim Support operates a free and confidential 24/7 Supportline and live chat service, every day of the year – offering specialist support to anyone who has been a victim of crime or a witness. If you’d prefer to access interactive self-support guides, visit My Support Space.

Telephone: 0808 16 89 111

Live chat: victimsupport.org.uk/live-chat

My Support Space: mysupportspace.org.uk/MoJ

More information can be found at www.victimsupport.org.uk

Support after Murder and Manslaughter

Support after Murder and Manslaughter offers understanding and support to families and friends who have been bereaved as a result of murder or manslaughter, through the mutual support of others who have suffered a similar tragedy.

Phone: 0121 472 2912

Visit the Support after Murder and Manslaughter website

Support for victim or witnesses of other criminal offences such as domestic abuse, sexual violence or abuse can be found here  Victim and witness services – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

National Bereavement Partnership.

Helpline. The helpline is open 7am – 10pm, seven days a week, to listen to those in need, support them in dealing with their bereavement 

0800 448 0800

helpline@nationalbereavementpartnership.org

What is a gang?

Throughout the UK there are several definitions of what constitutes a gang. Categorising a group of people as a gang can be difficult, and most recently there has been a rethink as to how exactly a gang should be classified. The emphasis has shifted more onto the behaviour of the gang and whether they are involved in gang related violence and drug trafficking, rather than the makeup of the group

How is a gang organised?

The structure, characteristics and often the ethnicity of gangs varies from area to area and will often depend on the local demographic. Most gangs are primarily made up of young people, aged between 13 and 24 years, although gang members have been known to be significantly older and younger than this age group. While gang membership is predominantly male based, young girls and women are increasingly coerced and drawn into gang activity. Gangs often have a fluid and chaotic hierarchical structure where individuals slide up and down the pecking order, dependent on their involvement at differing times. Seniority is often based on longevity of service (elders) with children and young people seen as minions at the bottom of the order. Younger gang members often engage in low level criminality when first joining the gang, e.g. burglary, theft, street robbery, assaults and anti-social behaviour.

What is a criminal network?

Organised criminal groups or networks are different from gangs. They consist of individuals who are purely involved in crime for personal gain (financial or otherwise). Organised crime includes, people trafficking, supply of firearms, drug importation, trafficking and supply (this includes county lines drug supply). It causes significant harm to the community.   There is no doubt that the gangs landscape is evolving. Whereas 10 years ago a gang would be defined by its postcode with the emphasis on protecting territory, many gangs have progressed and are now focussed on the drug market, both locally and through the county lines ‘business model’.

For more information around Criminal Exploitation, county lines and other gang related issues, please see links below.

Young People at Risk of Gang Involvement – More than just a statistic. – Safeguarding Hub

Criminal exploitation and gangs | NSPCC

Energy price increases help and support

Energy prices rose sharply when lockdown was lifted, and the economy returned to normal, they also increased further because of the war in Ukraine which has reduced supplies of Russian gas globally. This has therefore significantly pushed up the price of gas across the continent, including in the UK.

If your gas or electricity supplier increases its prices, they should tell you in a reasonable amount of time before the change takes place, unless:

• You are on a ‘staggered tariff’, where your contract contains set price increases on set dates (you won’t get a reminder) or if
• You are on a ‘tracker’ tariff, where your prices will go up and down to follow something else, such as a stock market (you won’t get any notice)

You should complain to your supplier if you think they have not given you reasonable notice.

Your supplier might have increased its prices because of changes to the ‘energy price cap’. This is the maximum they are allowed to charge if you are on a default tariff, or most other tariffs where the rate you pay changes. 

You will not be affected by the cap if:

• You are on a fixed tariff
• You are on a standard variable green tariff that Ofgem has not included in the cap

Support and help

If you are struggling to pay your energy bills or top up your prepayment meter you might be able to get extra help. 

The Citizens Advice Bureau can offer free confidential advice and help , and you will be able to check with them, if you can get grants and benefits to help pay your energy bills.

How to help you with the energy price increase

Ways to help the impact of the increase, you can compare prices from different energy suppliers using a price authorised comparison website. Make sure you act quickly – you will need to ask to change tariffs ideally before the winter months if you can when more energy will be used. 

Government grant support

Millions of households across Great Britain will receive non-repayable discounts on their energy bills this winter. There will be a £400 discount, administered by energy suppliers, which will be paid to consumers over 6 months with payments starting from October 2022, to ensure households receive financial support throughout the winter months.

If you are struggling with living costs

If you are struggling with money and living costs, there are things you can do to save on your regular living costs. Please look at on the Citizens Advice website- ‘check what to do if you need help with living costs’

If you are finding it hard to pay your bills, you can also get help again on the website for – ‘Find out more about getting help with your bills’

If you and your family due to the energy increase are struggling to pay for food, please also ‘find out how to get help from a food bank’.

If you feel your financial worries or problems, are starting to impact your mental health, and you are getting into out-of-control debt, there is also lots of support there to help you, thorough the mental health and money service UK.

For more information, advice or guidance please visit the websites listed below-

https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/managing-money/what-are-my-options-for-dealing-with-debt/what-is-breathing-space/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-bill/your-gas-or-electricity-supplier-has-put-up-its-prices/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/400-energy-bills-discount-to-support-households-this-winter

UK children ‘lack understanding and awareness of cyber bullying’

A study found children in the UK don’t fully understand what could constitute cyber bullying, while parents worry about it less than others globally.

Children and their parents in the UK have “important gaps in their knowledge” around cyber bullying, a new report on online safety says, warning that both are failing to properly identify it despite many young people being affected.

A study by cyber security firm McAfee found that more than half of children in the UK (56%) had suffered from name-calling – much higher than a global average of 40%.

And while 56% of UK parents worry that their child is being cyber bullied and 37% worried that their child could be a cyber bully themselves, both of these figures were well below the global averages of 74% and 58% respectively.

The McAfee said the results appeared to show a lack of understanding among UK children about what cyber bullying actually was despite the numbers who appeared to suffer from it, highlighting that while 93% of UK children said they would be the least likely to cyber bully someone, 15% admitted they had excluded someone from a group chat.

The act of cutting others out of group conversations was also higher in the UK than other European countries, suggesting the issue is more prevalent here with many children and parents unable to properly identify it.

The study involved surveying more than 11,600 parents and their children from 10 countries.

For more information on this, please visit: https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-corporate/newsroom/press-releases/press-release.html?news_id=d1da63d3-47bd-48c1-9463-35a4d97799ba

Snapchat introduces new parental controls

As part of Snap’s child safety efforts, Snapchat is launching a new supervision tool on Tuesday that the company says mimics how parents and teenagers interact in the real world.

Snapchat’s new “Family Centre” hub allows parents and guardians to keep tabs on who their teens message with on the app without disclosing what it is they’re saying to each other. Both the guardian and the child must accept the Family Centre invite before the oversight tools can take effect. Once the invites are accepted, a guardian can see the entirety of their child’s friends list and a list of accounts they’ve interacted with over the last seven days and report concerning accounts to Snap’s Trust and Safety Team.

Snapchat plans to roll out new Family Centre features over the next few weeks, including tools allowing parents to view the new friends their children have added along with additional content controls.

For more information on this, please visit: https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/9/23296987/snapchat-family-center-snap-child-safety-online-privacy-tool

Helping adults respond to disclosures of abuse

Research undertaken by the NSPCC has shown that adults don’t always recognise, understand or react appropriately when a child or young person starts to tell them about experiences of abuse and that this can mean that the child doesn’t get the support they need (Allnock and Miller, 2013¹). Adults aren’t always confident about knowing what to say and do if a child or young person  starts to disclose.

This research identified that it’s helpful for children and young people in the moment of disclosure if adults use appropriate interpersonal skills to make it clear they are listening and taking them seriously.

Whilst the following advice is focussed around child disclosure, these steps can be applied to sensitive or emotive conversations with anyone of any age.  

Show you care, help them open up

Give your full attention to the child or young person and keep your body language open and encouraging. Be compassionate, be understanding and reassure them their feelings are important. Phrases such as ‘you’ve shown such courage today’ help.

Take your time, slow down

Respect pauses and don’t interrupt the child – let them go at their own pace. Recognise and respond to their body language. And remember that it may take several conversations for them to share what’s happened to them.

Show you understand, reflect back

Make it clear you’re interested in what the child is telling you. Reflect back what they’ve said to check your understanding – and use their language to show it’s their experience.

The NSPCC have produced a short animation which demonstrates these steps in action

Let children know you’re listening | NSPCC Learning