Useful Information for Parents and Carers
This page contains information on Keeping your Child Safe Online and Keeping your Child Safe from Sexual Exploitation
Keeping your Child Safe Online
In this growing age of technology it is often difficult for parents to keep up with their children and their activities online. There is lots of information available to support and guide parents, we would like to share the following information with you so that you are able to support your child and keep them safe.
NSPCC
The NSPCC have teamed up with O2 to share information to Keep your child Safe Online.
O2 NSPCC Online Safety Helpline – providing personalised support for parents on privacy settings, new sites and apps and general advice. Call on 0808 8005002, also available through live chat.
The NSPCC SHARE AWARE campaign has encouraged thousands of conversations between parents and their children about online safety issues.
Know IT All
Know It All highlights the gap that exists between children’s real experience online and adult awareness of these experiences. The presentation contains information about positive ways young people are using different technologies, what the risks are to users and it outlines practical advice in avoiding or minimising risks when using online and mobile technologies.
Other useful information sheets:
Keeping Your Child Safe from Sexual Exploitation
Child sexual exploitation is when people use the power they have over young people to sexually abuse them. Their power may result from a difference in age, gender, intellect, strength, money or other resources. As a parent, would you know what to look out for?
Signs of Grooming and Child Sexual Exploitation.
- Going missing for periods of time or regularly returning home late.
- Skipping school or being disruptive in class.
- Appearing with unexplained gifts or possessions that can’t be accounted for.
- Experiencing a health problem that may indicate a sexually transmitted infection.
- Having mood swings and changes in temperament.
- Using drugs and/or alcohol.
- Displaying inappropriate sexualised behaviour, such as over-familiarity with strangers, dressing in a sexualised manner or sending sexualised images by mobile phone (“sexting”).
- They may also show signs of unexplained physical harm, such as bruising and cigarette burns.
Please view the following resources for further information:
- PACE Website – Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation. PACE works alongside parents and carers who are, or are at risk of being sexually exploited by perpetrators external to the family.
- CEOP – Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. The NCA’s CEOP (formally the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) works with child protection partners across the UK and overseas to identify the main threats to children and coordinates activity against these threats to bring offenders to account.
- NWG Network – Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation. The National Working Group provides a network link of professionals involved in creating the best response for children and young people and their families who have been subjected to Child Sexual Exploitation