Safe strong and free project

A child abuse prevention programme for children in their pre-school year, their parents and carers. The project covers bullying, stranger danger and abuse by an adult known to the child.

The safe strong and free project (ssf) aims to reduce the vulnerability of young children to assault and sexual abuse. A proactive approach is taken involving:

• Children in their pre-school year
• Parents
• Carers
• Nursery/playgroup staff

The objectives are to prevent children developing bullying behaviour, being victimised by their peers, abducted or sexually assaulted by adults.

Children are vulnerable people. BULLYING - various research studies show that many children are bullied and for some it happens repeatedly throughout their childhood. It makes children unhappy and often affects the whole family. It affects their confidence and self-esteem and their education can suffer. Their general development can also be affected. They find it hard to trust their peers when they have been let down so badly. If adults fail to help, their trust in them deteriorates too. The child doing the bullying needs help to change their behaviour.

Children are vulnerable people. ABUSE - research shows that between 1-in-10 and 1-in-4 children will be sexually assaulted before they are 16 years old. Here are some facts from survivors of childhood sexual abuse:

• in most cases the offender was known to, or related to them.
• Most did not tell anyone at the time.
• Some of those who did tell were not believed, protected or helped.
• They felt confused, frightened, convinced that no one would believe them.
• Some felt that they would not be loved if the awful secret got out.
• Their abusers used coercion, manipulation and conditioning to make them feel to blame.

ssf has taken account of research findings and the experience of adults who were subjected to childhood bullying and sexual abuse to develop a preventative programme for parents, carers and young children. The workshops deal with bullying, stranger danger and sexual abuse by an adult the child knows.

Newsletter

Our newsletter is filled with news and up-to-date information. You can download the latest newsletter here, or click onto the relevant link below for previous newsletters.

December 2006

March 2007

 

Membership

ssf was first piloted in the Inverness area of the Scottish Highlands in 1989. It is a voluntary organisation, charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company membership consists of individuals and groups who support or have an interest in the work of the Project, and the nurseries and playgroups who use the service. Statutory Agencies are Associate members.

Developments

Until 2003 ssf was only available within the Inverness Education Service Area. The Project has now expanded its capacity and is now available throughout the Highlands.The schedule for this expansion was:

• 2004 - available in Inverness, South-East Ross-shire, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey.
• 2005 - North and West Ross-shire, Sutherland and Caithness will be included.
• 2006 - Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh will be included. This will complete the development to cover the whole of the Highlands.

Management

ssf is managed by a Board of Directors who maintain the quality and high standards of the service. There is also a Committee of Advisors who represent; The Highland Council Social Work and Education Services, NHS Highland, Northern Constabulary, Scottish Children’s Reporters Administration (SCRA) Care and Learning Alliance (CALA)..

Staff

• Project Co-ordinator
• Clerical Assistant
• 6 Project Workers.

The Project Co-ordinator and Clerical Assistant are based in Inverness. The 6 Project Workers are located within the 6 identified areas throughout Highland.

How the project is funded

The main funders of the Project are:

• The Highland Council.
• NHS Highland.
• The National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund (2007 - 2012)

To supplement this we fund raise, make applications to Trust Funds and receive donations from individuals, clubs, fundraising groups and users of the service.

Volunteers

There are three volunteering opportunities with ssf:

• Volunteers help the Project Workers present the workshops to the children.
• The Directors are volunteers.
• Help with fund raising.