News

MCF have worked with the North Yorkshire Office of the Police, Fire and Crime commissioner to develop a package of support for children, parents and professionals in the North Yorkshire area. For parents we have produced the following:

1. Finding out your child has been harmed

To view the resource click here

As parents we want to keep our children safe and protected from harm. It is one of the primary drivers of being a parent – the balance between allowing our children to develop into independent adults, while protecting them from as much hurt as possible. But despite our best intentions, harm happens and sometimes we have to face the unimaginable truth that our child has been sexually abused. When this happens it is normal and natural to experience a range of emotions and responses that can be extremely difficult to process and manage. This leaflet is for parents in this situation.

2. Conversations with your child

To view the resource click here

Most parents say they would like their children to be able to talk to them, especially about online harm, but it can prove daunting to have the 'difficult conversation'. For this reason, we have produced a guide for parents and carers on starting conversations and practical tips for talking about this issue.

3. Ukrainian version: Talking to your child about technology-assisted child sexual abuse

Click here to download the resource

Most parents say they would like their children to be able to talk to them, especially about online harm, but it can prove daunting to have the 'difficult conversation'. This can be really difficult when you are also managing a multitude of other traumas.

For this reason we have produced this guide specially for Ukrainian parents is to support those families displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict in their home country.

It is vital that we let children know that if they feel uncomfortable about something happening online, we are there to listen and support without any judgement or blame. We must create that safe and supportive environment to encourage them to speak to us. Therefore, with North Yorkshire Police cadets, we developed the following animation to encourage them to seek help if they have been harmed online.

Don't suffer in silence animation

To view the animation please click here.

For professionals, MCF provided 300 licenses for the e-learning, Think: Path to Protection. MCF have also developed a course, 'Effectively communicating with children', that supports police and other practitioners working with children, to overcome any barriers preventing the child from talking to them, reduce the child's anxiety and ensure that any disclosures are not evidentially compromised. This course will continue to be delivered over the coming year. Should you wish more information on the course or any other training opportunities, please contact us at admin@mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk.

We look forward to continuing our support of North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership at conference in October.