Tag Archives: L/Derry LPG

Safer Internet Day 2024

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Safer Internet Day 2024 takes places on 6th February with the theme of ‘Inspiring Change?  Making a Difference, Managing Influence and Navigating Change Online’.  The online world is a fast moving space with a host of new and emerging trends.  For practitioners, parents and carers who have responsibility for children and young people, it is often hard to keep up as well as understand the impact of technology and where the risks might be.

This year, the Western and Northern Trust Digital Safeguarding Steering Groups have partnered up to host a range of masterclasses focusing on these online issues and concerns so that we help practitioners promote safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children, young people and their families.

Delivered by a range of experts from across the region and the UK, the workshops will explore:

  • Technology assisted abuse
  • Incels – what they are and how to support young people
  • Online sexual abuse, sextortion and sexploitation
  • Young people and pornography
  • Supporting vulnerable young people online
  • Key messages for practitioners so they can support and advise young people and their families

Full details including Eventbrite booking information are in the flyer below.

Safer Internet Day Feb 2024

Please note for the Technology Assisted Abuse session, all HSC staff can register via LearnHSCNI (linked on brochure). For non HSC staff, please complete booking form below.

Technology Assisted Abuse Booking Form

For more information about Safer Internet Day, click here

 

Western Area FYI – Issue 2

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Happy New Year!
Welcome to the second issue of FYI, your monthly round up of all things family support and early intervention/ prevention.
If you would like to contribute upcoming consultations, training, articles, or events that practitioners from the community, voluntary or statutory sectors within the Western Trust will find useful please contact;

Dr Priscilla Magee Mobile 07880723076
priscilla.magee@westerntrust.hscni.net 
Paul Sweeney
Mobile 07387259117
paul.sweeney@westerntrust.hscni.net

Western Area FYI – Issue 2

Western Area FYI – Issue 1

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Welcome to Issue 1 of WHSCT FYI (For your information)

Download Issue 1 

Please find your monthly update of all things family support and early intervention and prevention across the Western Trust. Please share with your teams and families and if you would like to sign up for a monthly FYI email, have a new service beginning in the Western Trust or you wish to highlight your work please feel free to make contact with the Locality Planning Coordinator in your area.  Contact details are located in the FYI.

This is the first FYI and it is hoped that this will grow and develop over time with your very valued input and feedback.

Western Area Outcomes Group Funds LPGs to Take Steps to Help Increase Access to Period Products

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A survey by Plan International UK found that one in ten young women aged between 14 and 21 in the UK cannot afford to buy sanitary products and one in seven struggled to afford them.  There are concerns that girls miss days at school and miss out on taking part in many other activities.  Sanitary products are the least donated items in foodbanks.  This is an issue that has been raised by the Locality Planning Groups in Western Outcomes Group Area, with members concerned that Period Poverty has been increasing due to Covid-19 with increased number of families have been faced with food and fuel poverty too due to being furloughed/made redundant during lockdowns. Therefore the Western Area Outcomes Group committed £15,400 of their 2020/21 funding to helping those who are faced with period poverty.

Tom Cassidy Interim Chair of the Western Area Outcomes Group explained “Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products and/or having a poor knowledge of menstruation, often due to financial constraints.  This can be caused by a wide range of reasons, but ultimately period poverty can negatively impact on a girl or woman’s ability to lead her life in the way that she wishes to do.

It is important to remember that period products are every bit as essential as other essential items that we take for granted such as hand soap, hand towels and toilet rolls.  All of which we can freely access in any public building.

Women and girls can’t opt out of having periods, but we can opt in to highlighting the need for a more equitable system that provides better access for those in need and that’s why we thought it was very important to do something proactively to address the issue of period poverty in the Western area.  Many families experience this issue as a type of hidden poverty and it is important to raise awareness of the prevalence of this issue and to reduce stigma in the hope that girls and women experiencing period poverty can reach out for help if it is needed”.

The funding was shared across the six LPGs in the Western area.  This enabled a lead organisation in each to purchase products to distribute through the LPG members to anyone who needs them.

Two groups negotiated with local shops and four of the groups worked together to negotiate a reduced price from Savage and Whitten Wholesale.

Rioghnach Murphy Chair of Strabane Locality Planning Group said “The Period Poverty Campaign has been a very successful endeavour and Strabane Sure Start was delighted to support it on behalf of the Strabane LPG.  Uptake in the Strabane area has been very high and many have benefitted.  We believe that period poverty has no place in the 21st century and that society has a duty to ensure that there are no barriers to education, sport or socialising events because women and girls do not have access to basic sanitary products.”

Fermanagh LPG Chair Mark Rodgers highlighted “The Fermanagh CYPSP Locality Group working along with Group member organisations and Hub Partners have been able to circulate a range of sanitary products across Fermanagh and Tyrone to help address the issues related to period poverty for women and girls across our local area.  This scheme has not only provided direct practical support, it has also helped to break down the stigma and taboo associated with periods and Period Poverty”.

Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum and Outer West Family Support Hub both welcomed the distribution of products within the Derry LPG area.  Michaela O’Hagan, FACT Coordinator said “Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum would like to thank CYPSP for their kind donation that allowed us to acquire much needed sanitary products.  These products were distributed to organisations in Derry who support adolescent and young women, they have reached community centres, youth groups and family HUBS in reinforcing the positive message of the Period of Poverty campaign”.  Frances Outer West Hub Coordinator noted “The Outer West Family Support Hub is very grateful for the period products that we received. The products were distributed to schools and youth clubs in the Outer West area of the city. Girls and young women will benefit from the generous donation”.

Child Friendly Cities & Communities UNICEF UK programme

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Bronagh Donnelly, CYPSP Locality Planner, with the Western Area Outcomes Group, for Derry City and Strabane locality, attended the Children’s rights at 30 conference held in St Martins in the Field in London in May 2019.  This was looking at the Child Friendly Cities & Communities UNICEF UK programme that works with councils to put children’s rights into practice – which is currently being rolled out throughout the UK including Derry City and Strabane as well as Aberdeen, Barnet, Cardiff, Liverpool and Newcastle.   

UNICEF Child Friendly Cities & Communities Conference, London, 23/05/2019
Photography by Jason Bye

UNICEF Child Friendly Cities & Communities Conference, London, 23/05/2019
Photography by Jason Bye

 

The programme aims to create cities and communities in the UK where all children – whether they are living in care, using a children’s centre, or simply visiting their local library – have a meaningful say in, and truly benefit from, the local decisions, services and spaces that shape their lives.  The programme is part of Child Friendly Cities – a global UNICEF initiative launched in 1996 that reaches close to 30 million children in 40 countries.

In the UK, UNICEF provides training based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and supports councils, their partners, and children and young people, as they work together on an ambitious three-to-five-year journey towards international recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly City or Community.

 For more information please visit: unicef.org.uk/child-friendly-cities

ABOUT THE EVENT

30 years ago the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was adopted by the UN General Assembly – setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all children (under 18) everywhere are entitled to. Today, the Convention has been ratified by every country in the world except for the United States, making it the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world.  

Children’s rights at 30: A powerful tool for cities & communities will celebrate the UNCRC turning 30, while shining a light on the enormous challenges councils in the UK continue to face as they work to protect the rights of the country’s most vulnerable children. 

During the event, keynote speakers set the scene for the day, speaking first on the significance and aspirations of the UNCRC as set out in 1989, followed by the reality of life for children and young people growing up in the UK in 2019.  

Speakers and panelists considered how children’s rights – in particular a child rights-based approach – can bring councils and their local partners together to help improve the effectiveness and legitimacy of the local decisions, services and spaces that shape children’s lives.   Bronagh was one of the panelists that spoke about Derry City & Strabane’s journey so far in bringing a child rights-based approach to life by sharing practical examples of how local authorities are putting children’s rights into practice. 

UNICEF Child Friendly Cities & Communities Conference, London, 23/05/2019
Photography by Jason Bye

This was an opportunity to showcase the work local authorities/council areas are doing to embed children’s rights in their communities and the impact this has had, as well as advocate for a whole-area approach to working with and for children and young people. They spoke about systems change – how children’s rights help us to look across cities and communities, see how services work together, and understand their impact on children and young people.  

Finally young panellists shared how children’s rights have provided them with a platform to be heard and influence change at the local and national level. The event closed with a final panel showcasing innovative and inspiring youth-led solutions to some of the country’s most pressing local challenges.