Ant and Dec to host NSPCC virtual assembly across Cambridgeshire

The ‘Speak Out Stay Safe’ assemblies will aim to educate children on what to do and who to speak to if something is worrying or upsetting them.

In an accessible and age appropriate way, the assembly is designed to teach children how to recognise different forms of abuse and how to speak out if they need to. As well as this, it also focuses on some of the additional worries that children may be experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now that school have started back, calls to the NSPCC about sexual abuse has increased and this comes on top of their experts reporting that the risk of abuse and neglect increased during lockdown. Since the return of schools in September, the NSPCC helpline has dealt with 827 contacts about sexual abuse. This represents a 10 percent increase compared to the four-month period, between April and August, since lockdown (754 contacts).

The national lockdown left many children trapped indoors with their abusers for months on end and the main issues the helpline heard about were physical and emotional abuse and neglect.

The NSPCC state that assemblies such as these are vital so that children know what to do if something is happening in their life which is making them feel scared or anxious.

Before the pandemic, the NSPCC delivered its assembly face-to-face, in more than 90% of all primary schools across the UK, and in 2019/20 the charity visited nearly 7,000 schools, delivering workshops to almost 1.6million children.

In this time, the NSPCC visited 61 primary schools and reached 14,135 children in Cambridgeshire.

Given the ongoing pandemic, NSPCC school volunteers can’t deliver the assembly in person, so instead produced a 30-minute online video that will be available to all primary schools in the UK.

The NSPCC is also offering supporting teaching materials with plenty of engaging activities, which are available in British Sign Language (BSL) and Welsh.

Hosts Ant and Dec, who’ve been supporting the NSPCC for many years said: “We’re thrilled to be involved with the online version of the NSPCC’s Speak Out. Stay Safe assembly and we’ve had great fun filming with Buddy, the NSPCC mascot.

“We know that the lockdown will have been a difficult time for some children and others may be struggling with being back at school.

“The assembly is so important as it reminds children that no matter what may be worrying them, there is always someone who can help.

The virtual assembly is also being backed by the Department for Education. Minister for Children and Families, Vicky Ford, said: “Protecting children from harm has always been a priority for this government which is why throughout the pandemic we asked schools, nurseries and colleges to remain open for those who are most vulnerable.

“The NSPCC’s Speak Out. Stay Safe assembly will encourage children to speak to a trusted adult about their worries and for many that is likely to be a teacher. That’s one of the reasons why getting children back into the classroom in September was so important and why we are placing social workers in some schools to help teachers spot and report the signs of abuse and neglect more quickly.

“The assemblies help to reinforce key lessons about abuse and neglect that are compulsory for all primary schools.

Karen Squillino, NSPCC Head of School Service added: “Children have been stuck indoors for many months and at the NSPCC we know for some children home isn’t always a safe place.

“Many during lockdown will have faced heightened risks. As the pandemic continues we all need to be there to support children and equipping them with the understanding they need to speak out is one vital way we can help ensure their safety.

“I encourage all primary schools to sign up, so that we can help as many children as possible to recognise and report any worries they have.”

Schools wishing to sign up can visit nspcc.org.uk/speakout.

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email [email protected]. Children can call Childline on 0800 11 11 from 7.30am to midnight from Monday to Friday or 9am to midnight on weekends. Or they can get in touch via www.childline.org.uk.