Children & Young People ~ Safety ~ information on local & national organisations

Reading Family Information Service

This Safety page has information on national/local organisations and useful websites.

Next review date April 2024

Safety advice for children and families including when online / social media.

NSPCC ~ Keeping children and young people safe online: NSPCC ~ preventing-abuse /keeping-children-safe/ online-safety/ talking-your-child-staying-safe-online/

ParentWise is a recent Government Home Office initiative prepared in collaboration with a number of charities and organisations.  The website provides help and advice to parents and carers of children and teenagers and includes links to various resources and information providers. ParentWise – A helping hand for parents and carers (campaign.gov.uk)

CEOP the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. Find out the latest information on how to stay safe on sites, mobiles and new technology. There’s also a place which anyone can use to report if they feel uncomfortable or worried about someone they are chatting to online. www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre   www.thinkuknow.co.uk (run by CEOP)

Created by Prevent Education Officers Kent & Medway ~ Part of the Prevent Education Officer Network. A guide to protecting your children from online hate, extremism and fake news. Parent Carer Toolkit ~ Online Guidance ~ April 2021  

Parent Zone help and advice for families in the digital world

Childline gives advice on bullying and online bullying and exploitation. 
www.childline.org.uk/online-bullying   www.childline.org.uk/online-mobile-safety

UK Safer Internet Centre provides guides and resources for children, parents, and professionals

Swiggle is an ad-free child friendly search engine. It uses the latest search technologies to make searches more useful, giving safer access to online content and encouraging responsible behaviour at the same time.

Support for parents and carers to keep children safe online – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  – The Government has produced some guidance for parent and carers to keep children safe online. – add to safety page

Parents Protect is an information and resources website for parents and carers, it raises awareness about child sexual abuse, answer any questions you may have and gives the information you need to help to protect children. www.parentsprotect.co.uk 

The Children’s Commissioner has published advice for parents on talking to your child about online sexual harassment, based on input from children themselves

Parents’ Guide to Age Ratings explains how the British Board of Film Classification rates content, and gives parents advice on choosing online content well

Kidscape: all types of bullying including cyberbullying www.kidscape.org.uk

Bullying Advice (part of Family Lives) www.bullying.co.uk

The Mix is an online guide for 13-25 year olds. This is a free non-judgemental support and information site, for young people. www.themix.org.uk

Helping Prevent terrorism and extremism - Reading Borough Council

Accident safety information and advice.

CAPT (the Child Accident Prevention Trust) is the UK’s leading charity working to reduce the number of children and young people killed, disabled or seriously injured in accidents. We exist because accidents are a leading cause of death and serious injury for children and young people. Many of these accidents can be prevented. https://www.capt.org.uk/

ROSPA is a registered charity and has been at the heart of accident prevention in the UK and around the world for almost 100 years. They promote safety and the prevention of accidents at work, at leisure, on the road, in the home and through safety education. www.rospa.com

Accidents to Children in the home is an NHS guide with tips on how to keep your child safe at home and prevent accidents. 

SCAS Kids South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (or SCAS for short) is part of the National Health Service (NHS). They receive over 1.5 million emergency and non-emergency calls each year. SCAS have set up a website  which aims to offer advice and information for children, parents and teachers to help them stay safe and healthy in a number of situations.

Fire Kills - essential advice and tips to help prevent fire in your home - and how to make an escape plan, in case fire does break out.

THINK! This organisation provides road safety information for road users. Our aim is to encourage safer behaviour to reduce the number of people killed and injured on our roads every year. www.think.gov.uk

When is it safe to leave a child at home on their own?

How to decide when it’s safe for your child to be home on their own, and how to find alternatives if they’re not ready. Information and advice available on the NSPCC website.

www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone

Child employment advice.

Child Employment  Children can only start full-time work after they reach the minimum school leaving age. Please visit www.gov.uk/child-employment

You can also find out more about working rules on under 13 years old, 13 to 14 year olds and 15 to 16 year olds. Information for Child Performers and Chaperones including Child Performance Licence Applications please use the following link. Child work permits

Advice for young people on sexual health.

Safe Sex Berkshire is a new website available from NHS Berkshire which looks at all aspects of sex and keeping healthy, including: Sexual Health Matters (STD’s), Contraception (also emergency), Test Kits for HIV & Chlamydia, Pregnancy, Sex & Relationships, Gender Identity, Consent, Keeping Safe and details of local services available for young people.  www.safesexberkshire.nhs.uk

Family Planning Reading Sexual Health, Contraceptive and Family Planning Advice, Unit 21a Craven Road, Reading. Florey Sexual Health Clinic  

The Mix is an online guide for 13-25 year olds. This is a free non-judgemental support and information site, for young people. www.themix.org.uk

Sexual identity support / information.

Childline: Part of your sexual identity might involve working out if you are attracted to boys, girls, or both. It is normal for young people to become aware of their emotional and sexual feelings at different times. www.childline.org.uk

ReachOUT: Find out more about Reading's LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) youth provision. ReachOUT

Supportu: A support service for those needing help with LGBT issues based in the Thames Valley. www.supportu.org.uk

Related Advice

Child Development Young People & Mental Health

Page last reviewed: 21/07/2023

Contact the Team

Family Information Service

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localoffer@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2

Adult & Carers Support

CSAAdvice.Signposting@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3747 0118 937 3747
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