Information and advice for children and young people

Calderdale Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) Reference Group’s Top 10 Tips to stay safe online:

1. Don’t add people just for followers
2. Don’t post personal information online
3. Watch what you look at and post online, stay safe and report inappropriate content
4. Don’t send nudes, it’s a criminal offence
5. Be careful about what you post online
6. Don’t share your passwords with anyone
7. Set your social media profiles to private so that random people can’t message you
8. Go online for positive use only and be aware of negative behaviour such as bullying
9. Be careful which websites you go on
10. Be aware that there are possible dangers online such as fake accounts and people who lie about who the really are.

Childline has lots of information on how to stay safe online.

You can report concerns about online safety to CEOP.

There are different forms of Child Exploitation in the UK, including Child Sexual Exploitation and Criminal Exploitation. You may have also heard of County Lines. Here is some useful information and links to help you understand more about the different forms of Child Exploitation.

Child Sexual Exploitation
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse. It happens when a child or young person is coerced, manipulated or deceived into sexual activity in exchange for things that they may need or want like gifts, drugs, money, status and affection. 

Please visit NSPCC website for more information on Child Sexual Exploitation

Child Criminal Exploitation and Gangs

Children and young people involved with gangs and criminal exploitation need help and support. They might be victims of violence or pressured into doing things like stealing or carrying drugs or weapons. They might be abused, exploited and put into dangerous situations.

Please visit NSPCC website for more information on Criminal exploitation and gangs

Please see: Missing People – How can we help young people.

Being homeless means not having a safe place to call home. Many young people sleep rough every night, but there are thousands more sleeping on sofas, floors, or with strangers; this is called Sofa Surfing. 

For more information on youth homelessness, please visit Centre Point.

Calderdale Young Advisors conducted a survey with Young People in Calderdale to find out what they knew about Homelessness and Sofa Surfing. Please watch their video on Homelessness and Sofa Surfing.

If you are under 16 years of age (or if under 18 years, if you are disabled) and you are looked after by someone else who is not a close relative, for more than 28 days, then you are being privately fostered. A close relative is your brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent, legal guardian or step-parent.

There may be many reasons why you are not living at home, it may be just your parent has had to go into hospital for a long stay, or your parents may be working or living in another country.

If you think you are living with private foster carers and want to talk to someone for help and advice, please contact:

Multi-Agency Screening Team (MAST) on 01422 393336 or for more information, read this leaflet Private fostering young people

Bullying can happen to anyone, anywhere. If you or someone you know is being bullied, you are not alone.

Bullying includes:

• People calling you names
• Making things up to get you into trouble
• Hitting, pinching, biting, pushing and shoving
• Stealing from you
• Damaging your belongings on purpose
• Taking your friends away from you
• Spreading rumours
• People threatening you, or being intimidating
• Cyber bullying – anything that is online such as Facebook or Email

For help and advice on how to cope with bullying, visit the Childline website.

Everyone experiences loss and bereavement differently and copes in their own way. Feeling sad, scared, shocked, angry, or even feel nothing at all are normal emotions, there is no right way to feel.

Sometimes, speaking to a professional about how you’re feeling could help. 

Please visit Open Minds for advice and guidance to help support you at this very difficult time. 

There are many reasons why someone might drink alcohol or take drugs.

Young Minds has a useful guide, containing facts, advice and information on drugs and alcohol, and how they can affect your mental health.

If you are:

• aged between 10 to 21 and living in Calderdale
• worried about either your drug and alcohol use or someone else’s

Please visit Calderdale Branching Out