Author Archives: Sharon

TikTok Safety Guide Launched to Support Schools, Parents and Carers

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The guides launched on Safer Internet Day (7th February), a day that promotes the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people, were created as part of EA’s commitment to enhancing the support and guidance offered to schools in relation to social medial.

They provide advice to schools, parents and carers on the basics of how TikTok works, the potential risks associated with it and helpful tips on how to best support children and young people on the use of such platforms.

TikTok is a social media application where users can create, share and watch short videos; and which allows users to express themselves in creative ways such as singing, dancing and performing comedy sketches. However the app has brought challenges and concerns for many schools, parents and carers as highlighted by EA’s Elaine Craig:

“The importance of online safety for children and young people cannot be underestimated. While TikTok is a hugely popular platform, potential risks include social pressures, stranger danger, lack of age verification, and access to explicit content.

“We were delighted to work with online safety experts INEQE and the Department of Education on these guides which are a highly useful resource, and which form part of our long-term strategy to keep young people safe while online.”

 

 

Guide for Parents/Carers

 

 

 

 

 

Guide for Schools 

‘Cost of Living’ & ‘Every Family Counts’ Events – Antrim and Ballymena

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Cost of living was one of the priorities identified by children, young people and parents that the Antrim/Ballymena CYPSP Locality Planning Group (LPG) have been working on for the last few years.  Since Covid and the cost of living crisis, this has obviously become a more pressing priority, therefore some members of the Antrim/Ballymena CYPSP LPG came together to do something to help local families with this.

A decision was made to hold events in Ballymena Showgrounds and Dunsilly Hotel.

The monring sessions brought together staff to network and share knowledge about services that help people make their money go further.

The afternoon sessions “Every Family Counts” brought together lots of different organisations as a means of informing families on services available in the local area to help with cost of living, e.g. Antrim Ballymena Surestart, Employers for Childcare, Northern Ireland Childminders Association, Start 360, Mid and East Antrim Council, Ballymena Baby basics, Ballymena Hygiene Bank, Impact Network NI, Family Fund, Ballymena South Community Cluster, Sensory Kids, Women’s Aid ABCLN, Slemish Credit Union, Mid and East Antrim Community Advice Service, NHSCT Health and Wellbeing, AN council, AN Community Advice, A Safe Space to be me, Barnardo’s, Libraries NI, Parentline NI, CAP and Department of Communities.

At the events there was a free play area, free recipes books, free resources to help with cost of living, NHSCT dietitians talk about how to cook healthy, low cost meals and a smoothie bike letting children create their own fruit smoothie with pedal power!

The events allowed organisations to come together to share knowledge and helped members of the public know what help and services are available round boosting their income and making their money go further. 

Approximately 50 staff attended in the morning and afternoon at both venues.

Approximately 50 members of the public attended ‘Every Family Counts’ and learned what is out there to help with cost of living.

Thanks for all the Antrim Ballymena CYPSP LPG members, the co-chairs, and all who promoted the event and were part of the events.

 

Quotes from public who attended:

  • “A lot of helpful advice about benefits, groups and things to do in the area.”
  • “There was a range of services available for support and signposting.”
  • “There was a wide range of stalls, friendly people.”
  • “Ideas for saving energy and recipes.”

Quotes from staff who attended:

  • “I learned about various agencies that I can refer and signpost local vulnerable families to.”
  • “We had a great opportunity to network. Lots of good resources and links with other professionals which was great for us.”

Issue 99 – Southern Area FYI – 9 March 2023

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Welcome to Issue 99 of our information bulletin, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

Download your copy here

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears).

One more edition until we reach our 100th issue!  Please feel free to give us feedback on how useful this has been for your organisation or service – See page 3 for further details.

In these difficult days, look out for funding opportunities on page 13 and also the usual wide range of courses and sessions which are no/low cost. 

As always, please feel free to share this with all of your colleagues and with those families with whom you work.

Locality Development Team, Southern Area

 

‘Steps To Cope’ Service

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The STEPS TO COPE service is for young people aged 11-25 who are affected by a parent or family member alcohol and/or drug use or mental health problems.

The service offers:

  • Support for young people aged 11-25 alongside their family members;
  • Individual 1 to 1 support sessions;
  • Online information, self-care tools and resources;
  • Information and awareness sessions designed to be delivered in education and community settings for use by mental health practitioners;
  • A young persons participation group.

For further info:  email stc@acsert.biz   telephone 0800 2545 123   visit www.ascert.biz

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