For Children And Young People
Welcome to our page dedicated for Children and Young People
Everyone has the right to be safe and everyone has a responsibility to help you.
All children and young people have the right to be protected and kept safe from harm.
Here are some places where you can get help
Childline, Young Scot, Internet Safety, Bullying, Advocacy and Participation Worker Who Cares? Scotland, Domestic Abuse, Sex and Relationships, OPEN Peer Mentoring Project, Child Sexual Exploitation, Children and Young Persons Commissioner for Scotland, Equal Protection From Assault Act, Documents
Childline
Childline is the free helpline for children and young people in the UK. For further information click on the link below. You can also chat online, just go to their website and click on the Chat Online Button.
For Me by Childline - Wherever you are and whatever life throws at you, Childline is now easier to access than ever before. ‘For me’ is the brand new way to get advice and support on loads of topics – from issues that can play a big part in everyone’s life, like school and exam stress, through to extremely personal issues, such as self-harm and mental health. This new app can be downloaded from the app store.
Childline have a dedicated Coronavirus page which covers what coronavirus is, what to do if you are worried and how to cope if you are staying at home
NB as above Childline are having to reduce their hours of operation. As of tonight the phone line / online chat will only be available from 9am til midnight
www.childline.org.uk www.childline.org.uk/kids The only change for Childline right now is that children and young people can only speak on the phone or use 1-2-1 Chat between 9am and midnight. They can still send emails at any time and these will be answered in the usual 24 hour time frame. For any children with a hearing impairment, the Deaf Zone is an additional resource on the website.
Contacting Childline video - here
Childline Scotland 0800 1111
Young Scot
Young People can find out all the latest goings on in their area i.e. Helpful contacts, news , what’s on and discounts etc.
Find out more about what's happening and the simple steps you can take to help prevent catching COVID-19 and spreading to others. Also find out more about what you can do if you are feeling anxious and worried, and how you can support others in your community.
https://young.scot/campaigns/national/coronavirus
Young Scot – That’s Not OK resource for young people
Young Scot and Scottish Government have launched a new resource developed in partnership with Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women's Aid. This resource – called #ThatsNotOK – provides young people with information about different forms of gender-based violence, healthy relationships and consent, and signposts where they get additional support. Link to That’s Not OK resource.
Internet Safety
Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre have a website you can visit to get loads of advice on keeping yourself safe whether Gaming, using Mobiles, Online Podcasts and Blogs. Also look for the “Eye” logo at the top right hand of the site where children and young people can report abuse and get the help they need.
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Child Friendly Search Engine: https://swiggle.org.uk/
To promote our VSVS (Virtually Safe Virtually Sound) day at Aith Junior High School held on Thursday 10 May a film was prepared by Stewart Hornal, Digital Apprentice
with Youth Services.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ndHtTNHYsI&sns=em.
Police Scotland Young Volunteers - Keeping Safe Online Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcB05n4kfAU&feature=youtu.be
www.saferinternet.org.uk
Bullying?
Bullying could be verbal, physical or social, online or offline and is unwanted behaviour. It includes actions such as threats, spreading rumors or physically attacking someone. If you or someone you know is being bullied, more information can be found by clicking on these links:
Other contacts for children and young people re Bullying
Respect me - https://respectme.org.uk/
Advocacy and Participation Worker - Who Cares? Scotland
Who Cares? Scotland are a national organisation providing advocacy and participation activities to looked after children and care experienced young people. The service is confidential and totally independent of statutory services like social work and care providers. Advocates are on the side of the child or young person and are not involved in making any decisions about them. An advocate is there to help young folk speak up as an individual or a group.
We have 2 workers in Shetland; Siân Wild swild@whocaresscotland.org 07974370714 and Rachel Hewitt rhewitt@whocaresscotland.org 07849090687
An advocate supports children and young people by:
- Listening to them and making sure they understand their situation
- Providing information about their rights
- Supporting them to express their views or speaking on their behalf
- Helping them to prepare for and participate in meetings, children’s hearings and reviews
- Supporting them to share concerns or make complaints
- Helping them to access services
- Providing activities and groups that they can take part to meet other children and young people with similar experiences, build confidence and develop relationships.
Domestic Abuse – There’s No Excuse!
Where there is domestic abuse in a household it can have a significant impact on the children and young people in that family. Domestic abuse can happen in any family and can happen to men as well as women. For help and advice visit:
www.domesticabuse.co.uk
www.thehideout.org.uk
Childline Scotland 0800 1111
Sex and Relationships
Information for young people on sex and relationships can be found at the following link - www.getthelowdown.co.uk
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The OPEN Peer Mentoring project strives to enable mentees to achieve their full potential and gain confidence to take control of their pathway, through providing guidance, support, and encouragement from mentors that are of similar age or with similar shared experience in a safe and understanding environment.
Peer Mentors and Mentees – are you aged 14-25 and who are care experienced and/or in the youth justice system – then we need your help to be mentors and mentees!
For more information contact Una.murray@shetland.org
Mentees – are you aged 14 – 18 and would benefit from becoming a mentee to increasing your self-esteem, coping mechanisms and build confidence. Please contact Una.murray@shetland.org
Peer Mentors – are you aged 16 – 25? Can you commit to a one year programme that will develop your personal skill, knowledge and make you become effective peer mentors? For more information please contact Una.murray@shetland.org
Child Sexual Exploitation
Here is a link to the Scottish Government's TV advertising campaign and for more information a link to the Scottish Government's website.
Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland site has some information about children’s rights in a time of crisis and a number of helpful links to resources
https://www.cypcs.org.uk/news/in-the-news/getting-human-rights-advice-in-scary-times-the-coronavirus
In particular CYPCS recommend the #Covibook for children under 7 which can be downloaded here
https://www.mindheart.co/descargables /
Equal Protection from Assault Act
On 7th November 2020 the law in Scotland changed. This means that no adult has the right to physically punish a child - this means hitting, smacking, skelping and pinching (but it can mean other forms of physical punishment too)
Physical Punishment Children and Young Persons Leaflet
Poster - Physical punishment and you
Physical Punishment and You - Questions and Answers
Physical Punishment and You - Person to Talk To - Questions and Answers
Documents & Sites
VAS website link - https://www.shetland-communities.org.uk/subsites/vas/peer-education-project.htm
OPEN Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/OpenPeerEducationProject/?ref=bookmarks