Many thanks to the Safeguarding team at Clifton Diocese for sharing this newsletter full of advice and guidance whilst we adhere to the current lockdown situation
For more information and resources for safeguarding go to our website: www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/safeguarding/
Volunteers across the country are being encouraged to engage with the EduCare E Learning modules. All members of the Catholic community have free access to this thought-provoking material, that may just be the information that enables us to recognise a concern and make the difference to enable it to be resolved. There is an expectation by the Charity Commission that all those who perform a voluntary role which necessitates DBS clearance, should have a minimum standard of Safeguarding training. To gain access to this free resource email [email protected] and we will add you to the system, you should then be able to access the material within a couple of days.
The Silver Line is a free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people. It has now joined forces with Age Uk. Together they are available 24 hours a day. With an ageing population and therefore parish, we hopefully know who are our vulnerable people, particularly those who live alone. Some, including those who have taken up the mantle to provide additional support may wish to have someone to speak to not connected with their parish. This may be a valuable resource. www.thesilverline.org.uk
Childline is a national long-standing charity for children. Feeling stressed, sad, angry, confused? Are you worried, upset, confused or lonely? Childline is there for you. There is also a message board where you can share your experiences and get support from others in a similar position. www.childline.org.uk
Domestic violence
Many of you will have heard about the rise of domestic abuse during the current challenging circumstances. Relationships that were under strain may be pushed to breaking point and even the most stable of partners may act completely out of character. Here you will find information about where and how to report domestic abuse and get help.
Phone the police if you are in immediate danger: call 999 and ask for the police.
If you are in danger and unable to talk on the phone, call 999 and listen to the questions from the operator and if possible, respond by coughing or tapping the head set.
If prompted, press 55 to Make Yourself Heard and this will transfer your call to the police. (NB Pressing 55 only works on mobiles and does not allow police to track your location.)
When 999 calls are made from landlines, information about your location should be automatically available to the call handlers to help provide a response.
Seek help…
Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge
0808 200 0247
www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Live Fear Free helpline (Wales)
0808 80 10 800
www.livefearfree.gov.wales
Men’s Advice Line
0808 801 0327
www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
0808 802 9999
www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Respect phoneline
0808 802 4040
www.respectphoneline.org.uk
Galop (for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people)
0800 999 5428
www.galop.org.uk
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
0800 027 1234
sdafmh.org.uk
Scottish Women’s Aid
0131 226 6606
www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk
Women’s Aid Federation (Northern Ireland)
0800 917 1414
www.womensaidni.org
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana runs a national honour-based abuse helpline.
Telephone: 0800 5999 247
Email: [email protected]
Hestia
Hestia provides a free mobile app, Bright Sky, which provides support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.
Chayn
Chayn provides online help and resources in a number of languages about identifying manipulative situations and how friends can support those being abused.
Imkaan
Imkaan are a women’s organisation addressing violence against black and minority women and girls.
Southall Black Sisters
Southall Black Sisters offer advocacy and information to Asian and Afro-Caribbean women suffering abuse.
Stay Safe East
Stay Safe East provides advocacy and support services to disabled victims and survivors of abuse.
SignHealth
SignHealth provides domestic abuse service support for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL).
Telephone: 020 3947 2601
Email: [email protected]
Shelter
Shelter provides free confidential information, support and legal advice on all housing and homelessness issues.
Sexual Assault Referral Centres
Sexual Assault Referral Centres provide advice and support services to victims and survivors of sexual assault or abuse.
Mental Health – 020 8519 2122 or www.mind.org.uk
Mind is a national charity supporting those with mental health concerns. It also has a specific helpline for parents concerned about a young person – Parents Helpline – call 0808 802 5544
Young Minds -Young person looking for help and support
Text the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger, for free 24/7 support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.
If you need urgent help text YM to 85258
All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors
Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.
Public Health England, in partnership with the NHS has launched Every Mind Matters, a new way of empowering people to manage and improve their mental health.
Every Mind Matters aims to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others
Undoubtedly there will be many families where normal ‘rules’ regarding children’s screen time will have been relaxed or potentially gone completely out of the window as you wrestle with keeping them occupied. Amidst the wealth of amazing facts and experiences however there will still be some people using the situation for illegal and unsavoury activities. There is a host of Internet Safety material available and two particularly useful sites are:
Thinkuknow is the education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP. Thinkuknow aims to empowers children and young people aged 4-18 to identify the risks they may face online and know where they can go for support. It has created a package children and their families over the coming weeks and months. #OnlineSafetyAtHome.
NSPCC
The NSPCC has a whole host of really useful brief videos, often only a couple of minutes, regarding various areas of child safeguarding issues. www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety
