"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to continue that counts”
Welcome to Issue 78 of Quest News. We have over 14 hours of off-the-job training for apprentices in care and education to read and learn.
Events of the week
he Big Walk and Wheel 2023 - Previously The Big Pedal
Sponsored by UK cycling charity Sustrans, The Big Walk and Wheel – Previously known as The Big Pedal is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooter-based challenge that aims to inspire and empower kids, teachers and parents to get on two wheels in order to make the daily trek to school. The Big Walk and Wheel runs for ten school days each year, and there are prizes galore in store for those who take part.
March 20 - March 26 - Debt Awareness Week 2023
March 20 - March 31 - The Big Walk and Wheel 2023 - Previously The Big Pedal
March 20 - Spring Equinox (First Day of Spring) 2023
March 23 - National Day Of Reflection 2023
March 24 - National Skipping Day 2023
Video
Social Media Murders:The Murder of Alice Ruggles
Chilling documentary about a young woman who was brutally killed by a calculating ex-boyfriend. Discover how he used social media and the internet to stalk and torment her.
Approx. 60 mins
Policy of the Week – E-safety policy
Policies should demonstrate good and safe internet practice for everyone, and should link to existing policies around behaviour, anti-bullying and safeguarding. Acceptable Use Policies should establish expected behaviour and be understood by young people, parents and staff.
Approx. 60 mins
Safeguarding and ED & I
Ask for ANI - New Postcode Checker As part of the Ask for ANI campaign, the Home Office has created a postcode checker which allows victims of domestic abuse to find their nearest participating jobcentre or pharmacy. Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) is a codeword scheme designed to help victims of domestic abuse access immediate help and support in a safe space.
Thousands of pharmacies and 18 jobcentres and benefits offices are now part of the Ask for ANI campaign and supply a safe and confidential room where those experiencing domestic abuse can reflect, access information about the support services available, and contact friends or family. As part of the government campaign to stop abuse, Enough has put together a collection of guidance and resources to help educators respond to and teach about all forms of abuse.
Approx. 30 mins
New Resources on Forced Marriage
Following the changes in legislation to the legal age for marriage in England and Wales, the Home Office has also published a new resources pack. The pack is designed to provide frontline professionals with more resources on forced marriage.
It includes:
Case studies of people who have experienced forced marriage.
Resources produced by both statutory and non-statutory organisations; government guidance on forced marriage.
Links to support organisations and helplines which can assist people who may be at risk of forced marriage.
The pack should be used alongside government guidance on forced marriage.
Approx. 40 mins
N20: Know The Risks - The Use of Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas, balloons, canisters and N2O) is commonly used as a recreational drug, and often perceived as harmless by users. However, across the UK, hospitals are reporting increasing cases of nerve and spinal cord damage due to the use of nitrous oxide.
Symptoms include:
• Numbness and tingling in the upper and lower limbs;
• Loss of balance;
• Muscular weakness
Recent guidelines released by UK neurologists highlight how recovery can be limited and argue that a preventative approach is essential to avoid permanent disability. N2O: Know The Risks is a campaign led by medical students to raise awareness among young people about the risks associated with using nitrous oxide. They have designed posters aimed at young people and deliver workshops in schools (year 8 upwards) and youth groups in East London and some other London areas.
Approx. 50 mins
Social Media and Child Abuse Image Offences
An NSPCC investigation has revealed that UK police recorded a 66 per cent increase in child abuse image offences over the last five years.
In a recent news blog, the NSPCC also argues unregulated social media is a central cause of the increase because social media companies are failing to prevent their sites being used to organise, commit, and share images of child sexual exploitation.
Recent research revealed:
Snapchat is the site most used to share child abuse images.
Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, were used in 33 per cent of child abuse crimes on social media.
Virtual reality environments, such as the Metaverse which is accessed through VR headsets, are now involved in child sexual abuse image crimes.
Approx.60 mins
Incel Culture and the Manosphere
In the last bulletin, we covered the misogynistic narrative of some social media influencers. These ideologies have been linked to the manosphere, an umbrella term for several interconnected misogynistic communities, including incel culture.
Online incel forums discuss hatred, resentment, misogyny, misanthropy and racism. Concerns about the influence of such ideologies on children and young people continue to grow, particularly about boys and young men who may be at risk of suicide ideation and self-harm.
You can access further research and a tool kit created by Durham University with resources to help educators address misogyny and the influence of the manosphere.
Approx. 40 mins
New County Lines Campaign from British Transport Police
British Transport Police has launched a new campaign to prevent children and young people being exploited by drug dealers as part of county lines networks.
The new digital campaign, “Don’t Take the Bait”, highlights the tactics used by drug dealers to coerce children and young people who may be vulnerable to criminal exploitation.
You can also download resources from Fearless, including exercises to help challenge perceptions and raise awareness of the coercive tactics used to exploit children and young people
Approx. 40 mins
No More Knives or County Lines!
Christina Gabbitas, Award Winning Author, Founder of Children's Literacy Fest Charity and Honorary Member for the NSPCC discusses the importance of informing young children in Primary Schools of the dangers of knife crime and county lines. She believes that early intervention, prevention and working in partnership with the police and schools is crucial in helping children to become more aware of the consequences of exploitation, being groomed and becoming involved in the criminal activity associated with drugs and gangs.
Christina's 'No More Knives or County Lines' illustrated story is a superb way to engage children and support their learning of this sensitive topic. It promotes positive discussions about the risks of drugs, and knives that are age appropriate, supporting crucial safeguarding strategies in schools.
Christina's work has been collaborated, endorsed and supported by various police forces. Her workshops have also been highly rated by schools and received excellent reviews.
Approx. 40 mins
Keeping Children Safe in Education - KCISE 2022
The following resources to help you ensure you and your staff are all up to date with the latest in Keeping Children Safe in Education. These resources are free for the whole education community to use.
NEW - 8 staff quizzes to check at various points through the year if everyone remembers key elements of KCSIE
Summary video of the 1 September changes below,including ideas for next steps
Checklist of KCSIE mentions of what must be in your policies to help your annual policy review
Translations of Part 1/Annex A into 13 community languages for EAL colleagues (remember ALL, not just classroom-based staff)
Approx. 30 mins
#WakeUpWednesday: Top Tips for Adopting Safe and Healthy Online Habits
The world, sadly, is all too often an unfair place. That’s why Comic Relief annually raises both funds and awareness to combat some of modern life’s worst inequalities. Unfortunately, many of these imbalances also play out in the online space, with young internet users often attacked because of a disability, their gender or their family’s financial circumstances.
As Red Nose Day 2023 gears up to help people through difficult times and put smiles back on young faces, our #WakeUpWednesday guide this week examines how to support children in dealing with negative things they watch, hear or read online. We’ve got top tips for safe, healthy online habits that can help youngsters to take potential pitfalls in their stride.
Approx. 30 mins
Raising Awareness of Male Domestic Violence – Mankind
We often talk the effect of violence in the home on children. It is often assumed, that when we reference violent homes, we are meaning homes where the male in the home is violent towards the female. Yet the reality is that men too can be affected by domestic violence, and in general are far less likely to come forward for help. The Mankind Initiative is a UK organization, seeking to raise awareness of Female-to-Male domestic violence, with a view to helping more men get out of abuse relationships. The Mankind organisation was the first such organisation in the UK dating back to 2001 and they're still going strong. To find out more, please follow the link below:
Approx. 30 mins
Health & Safety
Tiny data centre used to heat public swimming pool
The heat generated by a washing-machine-sized data centre is being used to heat a Devon public swimming pool.
Approx. 30 min
Driving a positive safety culture
The importance of driving a culture of health and safety within your organisation can not be underestimated. It can help you comply with legislation, attract and retain employees, minimise risk and potentially, save a life of one of our colleagues. But if you need to make a cultural change, where do you start?
Approx. 30 mins
Healthcare staff get safety alarms as violent incidents increase
Pinpoint was initially set up to address increasing rates of violence toward hospital workers which had an impact on staff morale, absenteeism, and retention.
Approx. 30 mins
Health and Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 31
EPISODE 31 of the Health and Safety Matters Podcast is now live and features an interview with Dräger Safety UK Head of Safety Marketing David Head.
In this episode, host Mark Sennett chats with Dräger Safety UK Head of Safety Marketing David Head about the need for safety to be a key consideration in the UK’s energy transition, connected and digital safety and also what plans Dräger has for 2023 and beyond.
Approx. 40 mins
Wider Curriculum
New guidance to support workers caring for LGBTQ+ people in later life
A framework commissioned and funded by Skills for Care has been published to support social care workers in providing care to older LGBTQ+ people.
Approx. 30 mins
Children’s social care bodies unite against asylum bill that ‘profoundly undermines Children Act’
Sector rails against proposals that would result in more children being detained and deported and seemingly leave many unaccompanied young people outside children's social care system
Approx. 30 mins
Your Guide to Raising Peer Awareness During World Autism Acceptance Week
Join over 2,500 professionals who have already accessed our resources, and raise peer awareness in your education setting, from 27th March - 2nd April 2023.
Approx. 30 mins
Hunt’s Budget boosts tax relief for foster and shared lives carers and support for care leavers
Chancellor also announces more support for disabled people to get into work but sector criticises lack of additional resource for social care system
Approx. 30 mins
