Snagged: A film and teaching pack
'Snagged' is designed to raise awareness about online grooming, county lines and exploitation among young people, teachers and parents.
“Absolutely stunning.” Seona Baker, Education Safeguarding Co-ordinator, Walsall Council
"Through its approach and emphasis on co-production, this EasySRE resource demonstrates good practice in RSE and will be used within our Walsall secondary schools and available to Walsall parents to support teachers and parents in understanding the issues around grooming and in being able to raise the issue with the young people they are in contact with. The format means that the message is given in an easily accessible but non-victim blaming manner enabling dialogue and effective learning." - Esther Higdon, Senior Programme Development & Commissioning Manager, Public Health Department, Walsall Council
Synopsis
'Snagged' shows how online grooming, via apps and smartphones, can be used to draw young people into drug running (county lines), child sexual exploitation (CSE) and radicalisation. In addition to this, the film shows how important it is for young people to gain help from their friends, family and professionals. The drama concludes with upbeat tips about online safety, spoken to camera by local young people. After watching the complete film with your group you can use the film in episodes along with the bespoke teaching resources.
NB: 'Talk the Talk' is a good accompanying resource to help parents set boundaries and to talk to their young people about keeping safe.
'Snagged' was commissioned by Walsall healthcare NHS Trust. It was created by Catcher Media working with staff and students at walsall Academy and Street Teams. Funded by Walsall Council Public Health.
Take a look at our Top Tips before delivering your sessions.
Topic Areas: Online grooming, county lines, drug mules, child sexual exploitation (CSE), radicalisation and extremism, internet safety and understanding risks associated with certain behaviour e.g. sexting.
Top Tips
Health professional Carol Harris says:
- Help pupils and young people to set ground rules to in order to minimise embarrassment, inappropriate and unintended disclosures.
- You don’t have to be an expert to use this resource with young people but you should familiarise yourself with the content.
- Reinforce the ground rules as is necessary.
- You could provide an anonymous question box if young people are too embarrassed to ask questions. This can give you breathing space if you are worried about answering questions as you can take them away to consider how best to answer them.
- Consider the limits of confidentiality and child protection inside and outside the classroom/youth setting. Refer to your child protection procedures.
- Consider in advance who young people will be referred to if they ask for personal help following a lesson.
The Whole School Approach
The resources available on this website have been developed in the context of a Whole School Approach to Relationships and Sex Education.
In Walsall we have found that this approach achieves the most successful positive outcomes for young people. Before using them we strongly recommend that practitioners consider the following:
• RSE/SRE policy
• Referral pathway for vulnerable young people
• RSE/SRE/PSHE curriculum
• Engagement of partners e.g. NHS specialists
• Staff confidence and current CPD opportunities
• Current National recommendations –policies, national curriculum etc.
Check out our Further Resources section to see if you can find extra helpful teaching material
Signposting
If you or someone you know is affected by child exploitation, your priority should be to get help as soon as you possibly can. The person concerned may be worried about not being believed, or being judged. It’s important to remember that child exploitation is never their fault, no matter how or why it happened. Child exploitation is a crime and there are several organisations that have special, expert services that can help those affected.
National Services
If you believe a child or young person is in immediate danger, call the police on 999. Call or text ‘stop CSE’ on 116000 or visit www.stop-cse.org/saysomething
Talk to Childline on 0800 1111 for free, confidential 24-hour helpline or visit: www.childline.org.uk
Call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111 or visit: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Call NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or visit: www.nspcc.org.uk.
Their child protection helpline gives information, advice and counselling to anyone worried about a child.
Barnardo’s provides a range of services to children, young people and families across the UK. Services address problems including sexual exploitation, substance misuse and homelessness, Address: Brooklands, Great Cornbow, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 3AB.Call them on: 0121 550 5271/6 or visit: www.barnardos.org.uk
Extremism: If you are concerned about extremism in a school or organisation that works with children or young people, or if you think a child might be at risk of extremism, contact the helpline on: 020 7340 7264 or email: counter.extremism@education.gov.uk
Walsall Services
Street Teams is based in Walsall, and specialises in working with children and young people abused through sexual exploitation. Call on 01922 621208
Chat Health: text a School Nurse about any worries you have. The Nurse will reply between 9am-5pm from Monday to Friday. Text: 07480 635 363
WiSH (Walsall integrated sexual health service). Text OKAY to: 64446 call 01922 270554or visit: www.walsallsexualhealth.co.uk
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