POLICE ESOL Cover - Cities of Migration

Keeping children safe 1 – a 10 point codeA bully in the school playground, an adult stranger or a friend of the family can hurt a child physically,mentally or sexually. Kidscape, a children’s charity concerned with the protection of children, haswritten a ten-point code to help protect children from these people. Their advice is to tell children:1. To be safeTell children that everyone has rights, which should not be taken away. It doesn’t matter how old theyare. No one should take away their right to be safe.2. To protect their own bodiesChildren need to know that their body belongs to them. No one should touch them where they do notwant to be touched.3. To say noChildren are taught to listen to and obey adults without asking questions. Tell children that they cansay no to anyone who tries to harm them.4. To get help against the bulliesBullies usually pick on younger and smaller children. Tell children to ask their friends to help them totell the bully to go away or to tell an adult they trust. Tell them that bullies are cowards and a firm loudno from a group of children or the threat of an angry adult often stops the bully. Tell them not to fightthe bully. If there is no one to help they may have to give the bully what he or she wants. Tell themthat keeping safe is more important than keeping their money or a possession that the bully wants.5. To tellTell children to tell an adult they trust, such as a relative or a teacher, of anything that made themuncomfortable or scared. Sometimes children try and protect their parents and not worry them. Do notshow that you are worried or upset. Listen to them, reassure them and take action.6. To be believedChildren need to know that they will be believed and supported when they ask an adult they trust forhelp. Stay calm and listen to them. If you show that you don’t believe them they may not ask for helpanother time when they really need it. Children rarely lie about sexual abuse. If someone is abusingthem and no one believes them, the abuse can go on for a long time.1. Adapted from The Never, Never Club Leaflet by Kidscape97