A year-long campaign to help Hounslow professionals, parents and carers talk to children about how to stay safe from sexual abuse concluded last week.
The campaign reached over 500 local professionals in the local area through the launch event, training sessions and presentations at forums. Over 1,000 parents met face-to face with NSPCC to learn how to keep their children safe from abuse. And over 6,000 children benefited from the delivery of PANTS in their classroom.
Over the year The London borough and Hounslow Safeguarding Children’s Board adopted the NSPCC’s highly successful ‘Underwear Rule’, known as PANTS, which has been welcomed by local professionals, parents and schools.
A hundred percent* of parents agreed or strongly agreed that they now know where to get information and advice about keeping their child safe from abuse. One hundred percent* also strongly agreed or agreed that they now felt confident about having conversations with their children about keeping safe from abuse.
Emma Motherwell, Local Campaigns Manager for the NSPCC said “We know that 1 in 20 children have been sexually abused, so PANTS is a vital tool to have important conversations with children at a young age, in simple age-appropriate way.
“Although this campaign has now ended there are still many resources readily available online for parents, including specially designed resources where English isn’t your first language or where children may have learning difficulties. Teachers can also download lesson plans which include slide presentations, curriculum links and much more.”
Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, Hounslow Council, said: “We all have a part to play in keeping children and young people safe.
“This campaign has been well received in Hounslow and we will continue to support the PANTS rule as part of our wider safeguarding activities.
“We want to ensure the safety of all children and young people in the borough and that is why we have launched this campaign with the NSPCC so that people know what to do if they suspect sexual abuse and to speak out if they have any concerns.”
A PANTS WEEK of local activity will be held on the week commencing 24^th September 2018.
If a resident has any concerns about a child, they should call the police on 999 if it is an emergency or 101 if an immediate response is not needed. They can also call the councilÂ’s childrenÂ’s services team on 020 8583 6600 or email earlyhelp@hounslow.gov.uk Or NSPCCÂ’s helpline on 0808 800 5000.
For further information about Hounslow Safeguarding Children Board (HSCB) please visit www.hscb.org.uk
For further information please contact the NSPCCÂ’s London and south east media team on 01634 564 741 or email southeastpressoffice@nspcc.org.uk