Responding to Social Unrest - Belonging & Community
Recent national civil unrest and protests have been unsettling for many, including children, young people, and adults.
Some adults may find it challenging to answer children’s questions about these events. It’s crucial for children to feel heard and to have trusted adults they can talk to about what they see or hear. They need time and space to process their feelings.
Public Health, along with Community Safety, the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), Police, Safeguarding, and VCSFE organizations, have compiled a series of resources to help those working with children and young people discuss any concerns they may have about hate crime, violence, and community unrest.
These conversations should be based on reliable information, helping children understand what sources they can trust and the impact of sharing information online and through media.
Children and young people should be taught about hate crime in an age-appropriate way and know how to handle or report it if they experience or witness it.
How to have conversations about unsettling events
The DfE have published a new blog on Educate Against Hate to support those working in education to hold difficult discussions with learners about extremism, teach students about online safety and mis- and disinformation and access protective security guidance for education settings.
Handling complex issues and creating a safe learning environment (pshe-association.org.uk) is essential to support planned school based discussions to take place within the context of PSHE lessons, helping to ensure safe teaching and learning practices.
Talking about distressing current events with kids (savethechildren.org.uk) There are a lot of scary, upsetting things happening in the world right now, and kids have a right to understand what’s going on. But how do we talk to them?
How to speak to children about trauma and tragedy, Psychologists offer expert advice | BPS Following the tragic events in Southport, expert psychologists from the BPS give their advice for parents on how to support their children through distressing events.
Addressing unrest, disinformation and violence - Sector signposting - National Youth Agency (nya.org.uk). This downloadable list of links to resources can help us all support young people and our communities following civil unrest, discrimination and violence.
Evaluating information
Share Checklist | Take care with what you share - Home. The internet and social media are full of facts and opinions. Most are balanced and informative but others can be misleading and could actually be fake news. Making them harmful to share with our friends and families. Use the SHARE checklist to help you spot false information.
Internet Matters have produced a series of resources on fake news, misinformation and disinformation, including advice and support on how to tackle it.
Understanding Hate Crime and Racism
Talking to children about racism | NSPCC. If you want to chat to a child or young person about racism, you might be worrying about how to start the conversation.
You might worry about saying the wrong thing. Or you may want to shield a child from difficult issues. However you're feeling, we’ve got advice to help you start the conversation.
Avon and Somerset Police provide a universal offer to all schools and colleges in Avon and Somerset.
Officers from the local policing teams can deliver lessons on hate crime where learners will find out more about what a hate crime is, how to report and where to seek help.
This is alongside other lessons on various subjects that are available to KS2, KS3, and KS4. These lessons should not be taught in isolation, but should always form part of a planned, developmental PSHE curriculum.
Schools can contact their School Link Officer or local PCSO to find out more.
Report hate crime | Avon and Somerset Police - A hate crime is when someone commits a crime against you because of your disability, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, religion, sex or any other perceived difference.
@yourpolice.uk on Instagram can be a good source of information for teenagers on policing related matters.
SARI - Stand Against Racism & Inequality (saricharity.org.uk) provides free support for anyone of any age who is a victim of hate crime across Avon and Somerset, whether that’s based on race, faith, disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity or gender.
SARI also provides teacher training, classroom workshops and assemblies to build awareness of hate crime and related equalities issues. While our focus is supporting victims, we work one to one with young people responsible for hate incidents, using our lived experience to support them to change their behaviour. Some of this support can be offered free of charge so please do not hesitate to get in touch via the website.
SARI also offer free training to schools that can be catered to the need/concerns the schools face.
To learn more please contact Janine Evans
Town centre safety and young people (somerset.gov.uk) Somerset remains a safe place to live, but like many areas of the UK , there are locations that experience higher levels of concerns around violence.
The Violence Reduction Partnership as part of the Highlight Scheme, have set up Youth Hubs with Young Somerset in both Bridgwater and Taunton.
- The Bridgwater Hub is run from 4pm to 6pm on Fridays in Coffee#1, Fore Street.
- The Taunton Hub is run from 3pm to 5pm on Saturdays in McDonalds, East Street.
The hubs are part of a series of initiatives being put in place in response to young people asking for more information and advice about safety and also how to access youth provision. Young people and parents or guardians can visit a Hub whilst in town and find out more.
Managing Trauma and support
Childhood Trauma, War, Migration and Asylum - UK Trauma Council support to those effected by war, migration and asylum and those working with them.
Somerset Trauma Informed Network - Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership are responsible for safeguarding children in Somerset and host the Somerset Trauma Informed Network and resource hub.
Prevent in Somerset strategy covers all types of extremism, both domestic violent and non-violent extremism, including the extreme right wing, religious militantism and other causes.
Avon & Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership (asvrp.co.uk) The Avon and Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership takes a public health and trauma informed approach to reducing violence and tackling disproportionality.
Diversity Voice - Culture & Community is an equality, diversity and inclusion charity based in Somerset. We work to prevent all forms of discrimination and to promote social inclusion, assisting a wide variety of groups to integrate into society.
Research in Practice has made a series of existing resources on anti-racism and trauma-informed practice open access.
Further resources, support and training may also be found within the following page - Supporting Children, Young People, Schools And Practitioners With War And Conflict
Mental Health & Wellbeing Help for Young People & Families July 2024.pdf Public Health have developed This Quick Guide for young people and families, providing national and local Somerset wide signposting to support and self-help resources.
Training & CPD
Avon and Somerset Police provide a universal offer to all schools and colleges in Avon and Somerset.
Officers from the local policing teams can deliver lessons on hate crime where learners will find out more about what a hate crime is, how to report and where to seek help.
This is alongside other lessons on various subjects that are available to KS2, KS3, and KS4. These lessons should not be taught in isolation, but should always form part of a planned, developmental PSHE curriculum.
Schools can contact their School Link Officer or local PCSO to find out more.
SARI - Stand Against Racism & Inequality (saricharity.org.uk) can provide teacher training, classroom workshops and assemblies to build awareness of hate crime and related equalities issues. This free training to schools can be catered to the need/concerns the schools face.
To learn more please contact Janine Evans
Curriculum and building belonging
Picture News - Learning from the world around us! Each week we choose a current news story, provide an image, a thought-provoking question and a variety of teaching resources. How can communities help each other in times of difficulty? | Discussion Board | Picture News (picture-news.co.uk)
Building a Stronger Britain toolkit - Speak Out - National Youth Agency Creating Safe Spaces to Challenge Narratives of Division & Hatred.
Somerset Participation Toolkit. A set of tools, guidance and resources that supports workers, staff and volunteers to engage with and involve children and young people and their families
Somerset Young People’s voice opportunities for young people to get involved, as well as a range of tools and resources for practitioners. Including the Somerset participation toolkit
Somerset Children & Young People's Public Health RSHE minisite provides information and resources to support curriculum guidance and delivery.
To explore a whole school approach to community and belonging, the Somerset Health and Wellbeing Framework offers guidance on policies, including relational, equality and safeguarding, hearing the voice of children and young people, supporting staff and including families.
