Call us: 07970 071 675

Keeping Safe

Home Keeping Safe

Telling someone if I’m being bullied, being safe online, and looking after myself when I’m out with friends.

Growing up and becoming independent, includes being safe and enjoying a happy life. We are all different, from how we walk, to what we look like or how we speak.

The knowledge and skills you may develop are:

Supporting young people to be safe on online.
Supporting young people to be safe on social media.
Informing young people of who they can talk to and where to go if they have any safety worries.
Teaching coping strategies.
Helping to identity who their friends are.
Supporting young people to know the difference between an online friend and a friend they have met in person.

Resources for young people

Bullying is behaviour that can hurt someone. It includes things like name calling, pushing, hitting, or being spiteful to someone. It can happen anywhere such as school, college, or university, in the home, at work or online (Cyberbullying). There are times when someone may say or do something that’s hurtful. If it happens more than once, especially if it makes someone feel threatened, intimidated, or powerless, this is bullying. Bullying can be very difficult, it can leave people feeling hurt, scared, and worried.

What is bullying? A guide for coping with bullying

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/bullying/

Ocean saying this:

‘If this is happening to you are not alone! If you don’t have a trusted adult to chat to, there are lots of organisations who are there to help you with lots of advice and support.

Childline provides a free, confidential place to chat to someone who can help you. You can phone them, use an online message board or email them.

https://www.childline.org.uk/login/?returnPath=/locker/

EACH provides a free and confidential, homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying reporting service for children and young people up to 18 years of age.

http://each.education/homophobic-transphobic-helpline

The Anti Bullying Alliance has lots of tools and information to support you if you’re being bullied.

https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/advice-and-support/if-youre-being-bullied/find-help-and-support

To help with managing your feelings, Childline have come up with Toolbox – a place to take your mind off things with games, tools to find ways to cope and get creative letting your feelings out!

https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/

Ocean with her friends saying – ‘There are lots of ways to feel calmer, it’s about finding what works for you! Check out Childline’s Calm Zone, to find ways of letting go of your stress with breathing exercises, activities, games, and videos.’

https://www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/calm-zone/

Online bullying (Cyberbullying) takes place through electronic devices, such as mobile phones or computers. It often comes though social media links, and it can include someone posting offensive or hurtful comments. Sending threats, encouraging someone to hurt themselves, spreading rumours, impersonating someone, causing embarrassment or sharing videos.

Kidscape provide excellent advice on how to manage cyberbullying

https://www.kidscape.org.uk/advice/advice-for-young-people/dealing-with-cyberbullying/

Choose not to respond

Most people who cyberbully and/or troll others are looking for a response. Our advice would be not to ‘feed the trolls’ – it is nearly always best not to respond. Some platforms will give you the option to mute the person and their comments. That way you don’t have to be exposed to their hurt and hate.

Block the person or people

You always have the option to block or unfollow the person or people that are hurting you. If they are part of your school group, this may feel more difficult but see whether you have the option to mute them or their comments to prevent further hurt. If it feels safe, you may also want to talk to them about the harm they have caused and ask them to delete their comments. There can be times when people don’t realise they’ve caused hurt or embarrassment.

Increase your privacy

It’s very important that you trust the people who you let into your online space. Make sure you have the highest possible privacy settings (ask a friend or an adult for help if you’re not sure how to set these) and think carefully about who you want to see your content, and what you are prepared to share with a big audience. Remember what you post could also be shared with people you don’t know and almost anything you make public is outside of your control. Always think before you post.

Take care of yourself

Going through a cyberbullying incident can be very difficult. It’s okay to feel angry and sad but you will get through it. If one thing is for certain, it is the speed at which people online move on to something new! You might find it helpful to come off the platform where it is happening for a short period of time. Meet up with a friend, go for a walk, watch a film. Anything that takes your mind off what is happening. Surround yourself with positive people and things and you will start to feel better. Also – things always feel worse at night (when a lot of cyberbullying happens) and so it can be a good idea to come off the platform (or offline altogether), do something that makes you feel better, have a good sleep, and you may find you look at the situation differently in the morning.

Don’t forget to stick to the Social Media and Digital Rules:

Never give out personal information or send photos to people you don’t know
Tell an adult if you find something that is not right
Don’t give out your password
If someone says or does something mean on line- tell an adult
Never talk to people who you do not know
Never agree to meet people
Show your parents/carers/ trusted adult how you use the internet/social media

If you use Facebook- Many people have friends on Facebook who they have never met; only friend people you know and have met in real life!

Being safe when you are out with your friends

Make sure you stay alert and know what’s happening around you.
If you go out with your mates, stay together, even if you fall out with someone.
Never take shortcuts, stick to the areas that you know best.
Let your parents/carers know where you are going.
Let a trusted adult know if someone does anything to make you feel uncomfortable.
Keep mobile phones and other valuables out of sight and turn off your mobile phone ringer to avoid attracting attention.
Stick to busy, well-lit roads, and avoid short cuts through alleyways.
If you are worried that someone is following you then you should cross the road or go to a place with lots of people around, like a bus stop or shop.
There’s loads of personal alarms to choose from that are small enough to fit in your hand-they are easy to trigger.
If you’re traveling by bus, try to use bus stops on well-lit roads, sit downstairs, if possible, near the driver.

Advice for children and young people about staying safe

Advice for Children and Young People on Staying Safe – BHSCP

Seven tips for a safe night out

7 top tips for a safe night out | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)

Ask for Angela – The national scheme that helps anyone who is feeling vulnerable on a night out to get the support they need.

Home – Ask For Angela

Resources for parent/carers and professionals

Please click on following links to learn more

Keeping Safe

Telling someone if I’m being bullied, being safe online, and looking after myself when I’m out with friends.

The knowledge and skills you may develop are:

Resources for young people

What is bullying? A guide for coping with bullying

Choose not to respond

Block the person or people

Increase your privacy

Take care of yourself

Don’t forget to stick to the Social Media and Digital Rules:

Being safe when you are out with your friends

Resources for parent/carers and professionals

The National bullying helpline is an advice centre run by volunteers

Social media privacy guides

Social media top tips

Instagram safety and privacy settings

Instagram safety and privacy settings

Common Sense tips to keep young people safe

Kidscape- Parent/Carer bullying advice line

Online gaming information with top tips & FAQ’s

TikTok Parental Control Settings

Whatsapp privacy settings

Online safety tips for parents/carers of 14+ year olds

A guide to help parents and carers

Our Visitors

About BDB

Latest News