Workshops Delivered By Kidsafe
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.
Child Protection/Safeguarding programmes for children
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 programme 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 children identify their own support network of trusted adults that they can turn to if they are scared or worried about anything.
Format – Child Protection/Safeguarding programme for children
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 and using our voice.
Week Three:
Computer/Internet safety, mobile phone safety, chat room safety and inappropriate images/material.
Week Four:
Keeping private places on our bodies safe, inappropriate touching and secrets.
Week Five:
Domestic Violence and a full programme evaluation.
Parent and Carer Workshop
As well as 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 child protection/safeguarding children.
2. To build onto existing parenting skills and experience.
Format - 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. The effects Domestic Violence may have on children. Computer/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. The signs and symptoms an abused child may display. Support available both nationally and locally.
Week Four:
Importance of building children's self esteem. Active and effective listening: - and the value of communicating well with our children (talking and listening).
Since January 2003, the full KIDSAFE Child Protection/Safeguarding Programme has been successfully delivered at primary schools across Cumbria with 1000's of children directly benefiting from participating in the programme. In 2006 KIDSAFE encompassed North Lancashire and North Yorkshire into the area of benefit.