Greetings to all our readers

Welcome to the Summer edition of the Safeguarding Newsletter from the MITSkills Safeguarding Team. We aim to bring you all the latest, relevant help and advice on issues we feel will be of importance to you. In this issue, we talk about the worrying rise in the supply of edibles, along with the latest viral challenges to be aware of.

EDIBLES – URGENT REMINDER

An important reminder on the dangers of ‘edibles’, especially with the holidays  approaching. Please be vigiliant with any packages that may be delivered to home, or empty wrappers found in bags or clothing. Unfortunately, edibles can be easily obtained off the internet in very similar packaging to that of sweets that are safe and regularly sold in a wide range of shops.

What are edibles? Edibles is the term used to refer to any type of food products that contain cannabis (THC). Cannabis can be infused in chocolates, gummies and even juices!

While these products are usually marketed towards adults, they pose a particular concern, as they are both visually appealing and taste good to children and adolescents.

What can happen if my child eats an edibile?

If your child consumes a product containing THC, they may develop symptons such as:

• Excessive sleepiness
• Fast heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
• Feelings of anxiety, panic, or paranoia
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or weakness
• Poor co-ordination
• Seizures or coma (in rare cases)

URGENT SAFEGUARDING ALERT

Globally there has been an increase in reports of children and young people being victims of financially motivated sexual extortion, often referred to in the media as ‘sextortion’.

The National Crime Agency’s CEOP Education have issued an alert in education settings across the UK in response to this threat. The alert will help professionals/carers to:

➢ Recognise and understand financially motivated sexual extortion

➢ Raise awareness and help seeking behaviours amongst children and young people

➢ Give suitable messaging and support to parents and carers

➢ Support victims of financially motivated sexual extortion

Financially motivated sexual extortion involves children and young people being forced into paying money or meeting another financial demand (such as purchasing a pre-paid gift card) after an offender has threatened to release nudes or semi-nudes of them. It is a type of online blackmail and also a form of child sexual abuse. Financially motivated sexual extortion is usually carried out by organised crime groups based overseas who are typically motivated by money. These groups target all ages and genders however, a large proportion of cases have involved male victims aged 14-18.

Please click the link for an essential guide of advice and sextortion explained more in depth, together with tips on having difficult conversations and how to report incidents.

nca sextortion alert eng.pdf (ceopeducation.co.uk)

Clickbait Explained

Around one in five headlines online are clickbait. Clickbait is content designed to influence you to visit a page, video, or image online. They usually have outrageous and misleading headlines, scripts, or images. This kind of content is hard enough for adults to resist. It can be even harder for children, who are still developing the skills to stay focused and consider the consequences of their actions.

Many platforms use a clickbait strategy to make money. This is because ad networks allow apps and websites to earn money from the number of views that their ads receive. Their business model encourages ad-supported networks to create clickbait content. The more shocking the story, the more views they collect, and the more money they make. This can also spread misinformation, fake news, and propaganda.

There’s still plenty that can be done though to limit its influence – especially in relation to young people, who are often more susceptible to sensationalist headlines. The #WakeUpWednesday guide below details the potential hazards around clickbait and has expert tips for avoiding them.

(Click on the image for full sized version)

MIT Safeguarding Team

The MITSkills Safeguarding Team have been trained to an advanced level on all aspects of safeguarding. The team is available to any student, parent, or staff member to discuss and report any safeguarding concerns.

The Team Members are as follows:

Sport Safeguarding

Lead

Liam Hughes

Call-07510025851

MIT Safeguarding Team Email:

safeguarding@mitskills.com

Additional support available

Mental Health First Aiders

Our trained mental health first aiders are the point of contact for anyone who is experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. This interaction could range from having an initial conversation through to supporting the person to get appropriate help.

In a crisis, our Mental Health First Aiders can provide early intervention help for someone who may be developing a mental health issue. Our Mental Health First Aiders are not trained therapists or psychiatrists, but they can offer initial support through non-judgemental listening and guidance.

To access this support email either Iva.Icheva@mitskills.com , Liam.Hughes@mitskills.com or stuart.francis@mitskills.com for an informal non-judgemental chat.

Support Helplines London

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Support Helplines in West Yorkshire

General UK wide helplines