Press Release

Thursday 7 May 2015 For immediate release

‘It’s not OK’ child sexual abuse awareness campaign launches 11 May 2015

A joint child sexual abuse awareness campaign between City of York

Safeguarding Children Board (CYSCB) and the NSPCC launches in York on

Monday 11 May.

The aim of the „It‟s not OK‟ campaign is to help ensure that parents, carers, children and young people, professionals and the general public know how to recognise the signs of child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, where to get help and advice, and increase confidence in saying or doing something to stop the abuse.

This year-long multi-agency campaign, the first of its type for the NSPCC in

England, will have four distinct phases, with each targeting a different audience.

Information, resources and campaign materials will all be available in one place –

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the new sexual abuse and sexual exploitation website for York: www.itsnotokay- york.org.uk

Dot Evans from the City of York Safeguarding Children Board, said: “It‟s great to be launching the It‟s Not OK‟ campaign in York to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and exploitation and help us work together to protect our children and young people. The planning and delivery of this campaign couldn‟t have happened without the support and hard work of colleagues across a wide range of agencies and I would like to thank them all for their support and involvement.

“I hope that this campaign will not just help young people who may be at risk of abuse or exploitation, but help raise awareness of the issue with people of all ages across the city, helping to protect future generations ”

Helen Westerman, NSPCC campaigns manager, said: “It‟s great to be working with City of York Safeguarding Children Board on this campaign. We know how difficult it can be to speak out about sexual abuse and exploitation and we hope that this campaign provides a voice to children and young people living in abusive situations. The NSPCC in York has a history of providing services to support children and families affected by sexual abuse and this campaign builds on the excellent work being delivered by a range of agencies across the city.”

The main elements of the campaign are:

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 For children and young people - delivery of the campaign will be mainly

through the schools network with the NSPCC delivering to primary schools,

and colleagues from North Yorkshire Police (PCSOs) linking with

secondary schools. Guidance, training and support for the secondary

school programme has been offered by Senior Education Advisors from

York City and North Yorkshire Council colleagues.

 For parents – Parents will be invited to attend sessions on „How to parent

in the digital age‟,. Six local professionals will be trained in the delivery of

an information session for parents who want to know more about how to

keep their children safe online. Initially, sessions will be offered via schools,

although they can be accessed by other groups of parents (e.g. clubs and

associations, sporting bodies, faith groups, etc.).

 For professionals - a series of eight half-day seminars will begin in

September, looking at all aspects of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Each will be run by a different agency with specialisms in that area.

Delegates will be able to sign up to any of the sessions, free of charge, with

all materials from the sessions then available via the „itsnotokay‟ website

www.itsnotokay-york.org.uk

 For the general public - posters and wallet cards will be displayed across

the city, signposting people to the new website, the NSPCC 24 hour

helpline or the Police.

ENDS

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For further information please contact Claire Duggleby, Communications Manager, City of York Council, Tel: 01904 551068 e-mail: [email protected]

For further information please contact Michelle Thompson in the NSPCC communications team on 0113 8871109, e-mail [email protected] or mobile: 07824 478336.

Editor’s Notes: City of York SCB The City of York's Safeguarding Children Board (CYSCB) is an statutory inter-agency forum for agreeing how different services co-operate to protect children in York. We seek to ensure that the children of York are protected from all forms of abuse and neglect by ensuring that everybody working with children works effectively together

The NSPCC *Links to further information about NSPCC sexual abuse services offered in York: Letting the Future In is a service that helps children who have been sexually abused to recover, and Women as Protectors is a service that educates and supports women who have some form of relationship with a man who poses a risk of sexual harm to children. NSPCC Letting the Future In service NSPCC Women as Protectors

About the NSPCC The NSPCC is the only children's charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. Using voluntary donations, which make up more than 90 per cent of our funding, we help children who‟ve been abused to rebuild their lives, we protect children at risk, and we find the best ways of preventing child abuse from ever happening. So when a child needs a helping hand, we‟ll be there. When parents are finding it tough, we‟ll help. When laws need to change, or governments need to do more, we won‟t give up until things improve.

The ChildLine service provides a safe, confidential place for children with no one else to turn to, whatever their worry, whenever they need help. Children can contact ChildLine 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0800 1111 or by visiting www.childline.org.uk

Our free helpline provides adults with a place they can get advice and support, share their concerns about a child or get general information about child protection. Adults can contact the helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0808 800 5000, by texting 88858 or visiting www.nspcc.org.uk

ENDS

For further information please contact: Claire Duggleby Communications City of York Council Tel: 01904 551068 Fax: 01904 551064 Mob/out of hours: 07767318082 Email: [email protected]

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