Workshops ::: Overview

Courses include child protection programme for children, workshops for parents and carers, computer and Internet safety and bullying prevention.

KIDSAFE is a registered charity, established in Cumbria delivering preventative child protection programmes to primary aged school children, with supporting workshops for parents and carers.

The primary purpose of the KIDSAFE children's programme is to equip participating children with effective skills to keep themselves safe from the various forms of child abuse, without shattering their innocence.

The children's programme is delivered in the classroom setting, with active participation from children and class teachers. The course material is age appropriate with key messages being delivered through a variety of media including song, rhyme and action, puppetry, group discussion, games and worksheets.

During the 5 session programme, (sessions are 45 minutes), the children cover a range of topics including, their own feelings (happy/sad), respecting and valuing their own bodies, bullying, computer and internet safety, inappropriate touching and secrets in relation to abuse. Children devise strategies (as a group and as individuals) for keeping themselves safe. Strategies include the confidence and ability to say NO to anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, and the identifying their own support network of trusted adults that they can turn to if they are scared or worried about anything.

Basic format for 5 session programme: -
Week One: How do children already keep safe? What makes us happy? What makes us sad, scared or worried?
Week Two: Bullying - developing strategies to keep safe. Getting adults to listen. Using our voice.
Week Three: Keeping private places on our bodies safe. Inappropriate touching. Secrets
Week Four: Computer and internet safety. Mobile phone safety. Chatroom Safety. Inappropriate images and material
Week Five: Domestic violence. Full programme evaluation

Parent and Carer Workshop
Alongside the children's programme KIDSAFE facilitates workshops for parents and carers consisting of 4 x 2 hour sessions. The workshops have a dual purpose 1. To raise awareness around the abuse of children (i.e., signs and symptoms, effects of abuse on children, effects of witnessing abuse, what to do in the event of any child disclosing abuse) 2. To build onto existing parenting skills and experience (i.e., the importance of listening to children, building children's self esteem and confidence).

Basic format of parent and carer workshop: -
Week One: What do children need from us in order to grow into healthy adults? (i.e., positive role models, support, love, boundaries etc). What do we want for our children?
Week Two: How are children at risk? Abuse - physical, sexual, emotional and neglect. Effects of children witnessing domestic violence. Computer and internet safety for our children. Why children don't tell of abuse (i.e., secrets, scared - child victims of abuse often know the perpetrator).
Week Three: Dealing with a child's disclosure of abuse. Signs and symptoms of child abuse. Support available both nationally and locally.
Week Four: Importance of building children's self esteem. Active and effective listening. Value of communicating with our children (talking and listening).

Prior to delivery of the KIDSAFE children's programme a teacher information session is held with the schools teaching staff. (The session includes a re-cap of the schools own child protection policy). In addition to the teacher information session parents and carers are invited to attend one of two information sessions held in school. These sessions have proved invaluable as they provide the opportunity for parents and carers to become fully involved in the KIDSAFE programme. Information about the content of each children's session is provided to parents and carers throughout the delivery of the programme in the form of weekly letters sent home with the children.

Since January 2003, the full KIDSAFE child protection programme has been successfully delivered at primary schools across Cumbria, with 1000's of children directly benefitting from participating in the programme.

In 2006 KIDSAFE emcompassed North Lancashire into it's area of benefit. Schools who have participated in the full programme are as follows: -
North Cumbria: Beaconside Penrith, Petteril Bank Carlisle, Upperby Carlisle
West Cumbria: Ellenborough Maryport, Ewanrigg Maryport, Montreal Cleator Moor, Westfield Workington
South Cumbria: Dale Street Ulverston, Greengate Barrow, Ormsgill Barrow, Low Furness Great Urswick, St Thomas's Kendal, Ghyllside Kendal, Milnthorpe, St Oswald's Burneside, St Mary's Catholic School Ulverston
Lancashire: Sandylands Morecambe

Children's Comments
I know who to tell if I am feeling bad or sad inside We learnt how special are bodies are, and we are the boss of our body
I know who to tell if I feel YUKKY inside, it is someone I trust and know will listen like my teacher or my nan

Head Teacher Comments
Children should be given as much information as possible to keep them safe. This project gives them a voice
Education on sensitive issues such as this is needed
KIDSAFE builds on our existing P.S.H.E and compliments our child protection policy

Parent and Carer Comments
I consider this to be a brave but essential project that will have far reaching benefits now and into the future
I have really enjoyed this course despite the serious subject matter. It has been very beneficial for me and I will put into practice a lot of the things I have learnt and hopefully develop a better relationship with my children
A child needs to know that what they say is important, they deserve the right to be heard, I have learnt how to listen well to my children