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Join the Fight Against Child Sexual Exploitation

National Charity NWG Network asks all to unite against child sexual exploitation for their National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Raising Day – 18th March 2017.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of sexual abuse that involves the manipulation and/or coercion of young people under the age of 18 into sexual activity.

The National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Raising Day aims to highlight the issues surrounding child sexual exploitation; encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children.

Previous National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Raising Day have seen hundreds of events take place across the UK, ranging from poster and leaflet displays to whole authorities embarking on targeted campaigns across public services and shopping centres.

Working with over 11,000 professionals across the UK to help prevent and raise awareness of child sexual exploitation, NWG Network continue to leverage the strength of that network in order to tackle the problem head on.

“The National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Raising Day offers an opportunity for focus, for education and for discussion across society. In light of recent news reports it is timely that the 2017 National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Raising Day falls on a Saturday, not only will this enable the public campaigning in shopping centre and public areas to reach a larger audience but it will also enable police forces, organisations and projects to focus on the issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse in sports, an opportunity to target the large audiences at football matches and other sporting events taking place over the weekend period and offer safeguarding messages to be delivered to weekend sports activities for children and young people. Together we can create more positive outcomes for so many vulnerable young people.” Commented Sheila Taylor, CEO.

On the 18th March 2017 NWG Network call for all to unite against child sexual exploitation. Show your support by writing a personal pledge and posting to your social media with the hashtag #HelpingHands to help them raise awareness of CSE.

NWG are committed to the fight against child sexual exploitation and supporting victims and their families who are subjected to this abuse. But they cannot succeed without the support of people like you.

Visit www.stop-cse.org to find out more about the National Awareness Raising Day and putting a stop to CSE.

Internet Matters in partnership with tootoot, and supported by the Department for Education, are inviting schools to take part in a pilot online service to report bullying and cyberbullying concerns.

The programme which sits alongside 9 other innovative schemes to tackle bullying, backed with £4.4million of government investment, will enable 120,000 students across 300 schools to report incidents such as bullying, cyber bullying, or homophobic, transphobic and biphobic abuse.

Online reporting platform
At the core of the programme will be the award-winning online reporting platform which gives students and parents an easy and simple way to report all issues relating to bullying and cyberbullying.

To help pupils, parents and staff address the issues raised, the reporting platform will be supplemented by resource hubs dedicated to staff, pupils and parents, and will help schools address the issues or concerns that may be raised through the reporting platform.
Our aim is to create a one- stop shop for bullying support for school staff, pupils and parent.

Reporting platform with resources for students

Resource hub and reporting platform for parents

Safeguarding platform and resource hub for staff

Internet Matters and tootoot are inviting schools and Academies, both directly and via their Local authorities and Multi Academy Trusts, to register to join the 12-month programme, funded by the Department for Education.

We are holiding 6 regional workshops around the country across the next 12 months. We have already had our first one and our next one is in The North West.

The next workshop which is in the North West is the 27th March 2017, Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub (Jubilee Way, Orford, Warrington, WA2 8HE).

There are limited school places available on a first come first serve basis.

To register your school to take part please click the link makeanoisewarrington.eventbrite.co.uk

Or if you would live to register your school for future workshops then please register here www.makeanoise.info

For more info on this initiative visit: www.makeanoise.info or email: info@tootoot.co.uk

Online safety charity Childnet call on young people to ‘Be the Change’ and enter the 8th Childnet Film Competition.

Leading online safety charity, Childnet, have launched the eighth Childnet Film Competition to encourage young people aged 7-18 to create a short film to educate their peers about staying safe online.

With the aim of showcasing how young people can inspire others to make the internet a better place, the competition gives young people the opportunity to harness their creativity and understanding of online safety issues. This year’s theme focuses on how young people can ‘Be the Change’ and make the internet a better and safer place for all.

As Becky Nancarrow, Education Projects Officer at Childnet, said:

"Over the past eight years, hundreds of young people have taken part in our Film Competition, demonstrating their incredible creative skills as well as educating and inspiring their peers about staying safe online. It’s clear to us that young people can be creators of change and help shape a better internet for all."

Be the change – taking part
The Film Competition is split into two age categories and schools or youth organisations must oversee and submit entries on behalf of all participants. Childnet have developed resource packs including storyboard templates, guides to filmmaking and other useful documents to help schools and youth organisations engage and support young people in making their films. The top three films in each category will be invited to a private screening at the BFI in London and the winners will be awarded film kits for their school or youth organisation.

Primary aged young people (7 – 11) are invited to create a 60 second film in response to the theme: ‘Be the Change – It starts with us’, looking at how young people can work together to make the internet a great and safe place.

Secondary aged young people (11 – 18) are invited to create a 2 minute film in response to the theme: ‘Be the Change – We’re online for good’, looking at what young people are doing to have a positive effect online.

For both age groups Childnet are looking for creative, imaginative films which reflect a positive and inspiring message. Young people might express their ideas through comedy, animation, or music. They will be encouraged to consider different filmmaking styles such as creating an advert, campaign or documentary.

As one of the Secondary school category finalists from 2016 said about their film:

"The message of the film is to think about how many people there are on the internet and how easy it is to make differences to the world. The way your actions, even very small actions, can affect millions of people quickly is both scary and useful at the same time, and you must remember that it is your choice to affect people positively or negatively."

In order to register a group of talented young people you know, then please send an email to film@childnet.com for an information pack. The closing date for entries is Monday 12th June 2017 at 5pm.

Join the conversation on social media
To inspire young people to help others stay safe online, entrants are being encouraged to share their film competition stories on social media using the hashtag #bethechange. Whether this is a message about the issues being explored, a picture from the creative process or even a tip from the young filmmakers, schools and youth organisations can share their updates with @Childnet.

The judges
The winners will be decided by our expert panel which includes:

David Austin OBE, Chief Executive of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)

Joanna van der Meer, Film Tutor and Family Learning Programmer at BFI Southbank

Catherine McAllister, Head of Safeguarding and Child Protection BBC Children’s

Important dates:
1. Competition closes Monday 12th June 2017
2. Finalists notified Monday 19th June 2017
3. Screening and finalist’s event at the BFI Monday 3rd July 2017