Free places are now available on a behaviour change programme for men who want help to learn non-abusive ways of behaving in their relationships.

The programme has been commissioned by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership and is delivered by My Time, an organisation with a wealth of experience working to help men change their controlling or violent behaviours since 2012.

The 30-week programme comprises of weekly two-hour sessions supporting men to recognise the triggers for abusive behaviours towards current or ex-partners, and providing them with strategies to make positive changes.

Penny Darlington, Chair of Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum, said: "We want to help individuals who are controlling, violent or abusive in their relationships to face up to how their behaviour affects their partner and family, understand what triggers their behaviour, and learn non-abusive ways of behaving.

"Taking part in a programme like this can make significant differences to the lives and relationships of all of those involved – including individuals themselves, their partners and/or ex-partners, and any children who may have be affected by their abusive behaviour.

From 1 April 2019 MARAC referrals will only be accepted by West Midlands Police if you use new MARAC form and email address:

• Click here for the new MARAC referral form  available on Voilence Against Women and Girls page 

• Young Minds have launched advice for parents about supporting their children. Tips include: Encourage your child to take revision breaks and find a balance between studying and doing things they find enjoyable and relaxing. Make sure they are eating and drinking at regular intervals. Reassure them – reinforce that you are and will be proud of them no matter what happens. Remain positive and hopeful! Let them know their feelings are valid and normal, but also offer support and solutions where possible. Anxiety is often worst at night and this means it is useful to encourage good bedtime routine You can find out more here: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-guide-to-support-a-z/parents-guide-to-support-exam-time/

National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day is on Monday 18 March, 2019. Show your support by writing a personal pledge on your hand and posting a photo on social media using the hashtag #CSEDay19 making sure to tag in your organisation and @WVsafeguarding. 

​The pledge can be anything from speaking out about CSE to educating others about the issue and what signs to look out for.

Why not make a display of your hand photos in your own work place, or display campaign materials which you can click here to download.

Organised by the national charity NWG Network, it aims to encourage everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse.

For full details about the campaign see http://www.stop-cse.org/national-child-exploitation-awareness-day

The Stop It Now! helpline 0808 1000 900 | stopitnow.org.uk is a confidential helpline for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse.

Experienced operators offer advice and support to a variety of callers – from people worried about their own thoughts or behaviour, to those worried about the behaviour of another adult or a young person, to adults concerned about a child who may have been abused, to professionals needing advice and information.

Callers do not need to give identifying information. 

The helpline number is 0808 1000 900 and people can visit stopitnow.org.uk to send the helpline a confidential message.

You can talk to us about anything. No problem is too big or too small.

Call us free on 0800 1111 or get in touch online. However you choose to contact us, you're in control. It's confidential and you don't have to give your name if you don't want to.

When you call us on 0800 1111 you'll come through to our switchboard.

 This is where someone friendly will ask if you want to speak to a counsellor. If you log in for a 1-2-1 counsellor chat online, you might wait a little while before being connected with a counsellor. 

You can also send us an email from your locker.

 Click here Peer-on-Peer abuse toolkit

The guidance has been written by Dr Carlene Firmin from the Contextual Safeguarding Unit, lawyers Farrer & Co, and other experts including: Professor Andy Phippen, Dr Jonty Clark OBE, Judith Azzopardi, Cathy Wood, Julie Dugdale, Dr Jenny Lloyd, and Katie Rigg. 

Following a flurry of scare stories, some schools have warned parents about the "momo challenge" - but fact-checkers say it is a hoax.

The character, shown with bulging eyes, supposedly appears on WhatsApp and sets children dangerous "challenges" such as harming themselves.

But charities say there have been no reports of anybody receiving messages or harming themselves as a result.

They warn that media coverage has amplified a false scare story.

See recent news: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47393510

Runaway Helpline. It's your call.

If you've run away, been forced to leave home, are thinking about it or are worried about someone, Runaway Helpline is here for you. We'll listen and offer support. Not judge or tell you what to do. It's your call.

 Whatever you tell us at Runaway Helpline we'll listen and offer support. Not judge or tell you what to do. It's your call.

Runaway Helpline is here if you are thinking about running away, if you have already run away, or if you have been away and come back. 

Click here to visit the Runaway Helpline website.

Two services were commissioned last year to support children and young people around their emotional, and mental health wellbeing. They are:
1. KOOTH - provides free, safe and anonymous online counselling and support including online chat with friendly professionally qualified counsellors; a wealth of articles and resources written and / or suggested by young people; and live moderated forums.

See www.kooth.com for full details or contact Angela Jones (Integration and Participation worker) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2. WOLVERHAMPTON BEAM - is run by The Children's Society. It provides children and young people up to the age of 18 (up to the age of 25 for care leavers or anyone with a disability), parents/ carers & professionals with advice, signposting and support with any concerns relating to mental and emotional wellbeing. Support includes advice and guidance around anxiety, anger, mood management and self-esteem, and therapeutic and wellbeing groups / workshops for young people and parents/carers.

Drop-in - children young people, parents / carers, and workers can just visit one of the Drop-Ins (no appointment necessary) which currently run from:

• The Way Youth Zone (School Street, WV3 ONR) on Mondays from 11:00am until 3:00pm
• Eastfield Community Centre (Colliery Road, Eastfield, WV1 2QY) on Wednesdays from 1:00pm until 5:00pm

Click here for full details.

Local voluntary and community organisations also continue to provide a wide range of emotional wellbeing and mental health support through counselling and structured youth work approaches. These include Base 25, Believe To Achieve, Wolverhampton Relate, Aspiring Futures, The Haven, Compton Hospice.

'Position of trust' is a legal term that refers to certain roles and settings where an adult has regular and direct contact with children. Examples of positions of trust include:

• teachers
• care workers
• youth justice workers
• social workers
• doctors.

It's against the law for someone in a position of trust to engage in sexual activity with a child in their care, even if that child is over the age of consent (16 or over).

There are many roles which are not legally defined as being positions of trust, such as swimming coaches or faith group leaders. This means it's not currently against the law for people in these roles to have a sexual relationship with a 16– or 17-year-old in their care.

Click here to view NSPCC resources 

Helping young men to navigate responsibly online - Protecting child victims from harm

In the United Kingdom taking, making, sharing and possessing indecent photographs [and pseudo-photographs] of under-18s is illegal.

KNOW THE LAW - HELP US TO PROTECT VICTIMS

Can you be sure the person in the pictures you're viewing online is over-18?. If you've come across indecent images online that you believe may be of under-18s, do the right thing and report it. If you need help navigating the internet safely and legally, get in touch in confidence.

If you are a victim of indecent images or have been asked to share indecent images and would like to talk to someone in confidence, please contact us.

If you are concerned about your behaviour online and want help to navigate the internet safely and legally, or if you are worried about someone else's behaviour, stop and seek help.

The courts in London have just convicted a mother in court for FGM on her daughter. 

This is the first conviction nationally and shows that FGM is happening here in the UK as we have suspected for some time. Please spread the word amongst your networks and partner agencies.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/fgm-first-uk-conviction-mother-three-year-old-female-genital-mutilation-witchcraft-london-a8758641.html

Place2Be launched the first ever Children's Mental Health Week in 2015 to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people's mental health. 

Now in its fifth year, Place2Be hope to encourage more people than ever to get involved and spread the word.

For Children's Mental Health Week 2019 (4-10 February), we're taking steps to be Healthy: Inside and Out. 

Click here for Resources for schools and youth groups

Safeguarding Autistic children and young people (National Autistic Society)

The guide aims to complement existing policies and procedures and will provide specific information and guidance in relation to children and young people with autism.
https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/6282/The-protection-of-children-and-young-people-with-autism-from-violence-and-abuse.pdf

Let's Keep Safe - easy read version for people with learning difficulties
http://www.speakup.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Lets-Keep-Safe-Booklet-Web.pdf

Safety Circles
Safety Circles is a project to help people with learning disabilities and/or autism to be safer on the roads or walking. The most recent addition to these resources is a newly produced animation about road safety.
http://www.speakup.org.uk/?page_id=1489

Do you know a young person that may wish to take part ? 

This event is aimed at young people aged 10 - 18 from Wolverhampton, who would like to take part in a consultation looking at the layout and design of their section of the Safeguarding Board Website. If you have an eye for detail and enjoy being creative you are very welcome to attend this session. We will supply refreshments and travel expenses, but as a young person you will need to make your own way to the venue or be dropped off / collected by a parent/carer/organisation.

Places are limited to 12 young people, If you would like to attend and you are under 16, please ensure you have parents/carers permission.

** Parents / Carers will be required to complete a permission form - Please contact the Safeguarding Board on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request the permission form**

• Date - Wednesday, 20 February 2019 from 13:00-16:00

• Place -  WVSC - Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council 16 Temple Street, WV2 4AN Wolverhampton

 Please use this link -  https://www.facebook.com/events/294292474775454/?ti=as

Violence against Women and Girls

Please take the time to give us your thoughts on the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership draft Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2019-2022.

 You can access the consultation here. 

Consultation closes on 12 March 2019.

The UK Safer Internet Centre are delivering a FREE 2 hour Online Safety update in Wolverhampton on Feb 12th 9-11.30. 

Open to all who work with children and young people, this event will give you the latest in research, legislation, technology, tools and resources along with exclusive access to the presentation and resource materials.

Click on this Eventbrite link to book a place
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-safety-live-wolverhampton-tickets-53132047384

Hacking hate through social and emotional learning
You can also stay for an optional 30min introduction to SELMA, tackling the problem of online hate speech by promoting mutual awareness, tolerance, and respect. This European Union-funded project is based upon a Social and Emotional Learning approach to empower young people to become agents of change; helps them to better understand the phenomenon of online hate, and provides them with tools and strategies to act and make a difference.
SELMA is aimed at young people (age 11-16) and does not intend to police "bad" online behaviour; rather, it will nurture an environment where young people feel empowered to take action. This short introduction provides an overview of the project, shows some of the resources in development and provides delegates with exclusive early access to the toolkit.

If you are interested in Hacking Hate, reducing online hate speech, and improving emotional literacy for your students, this is a must-see project. We hope you can join us.