Community

Tackling child abuse with NSPCC’s bilingual workshops

Published

8 months ago

March 15, 2024

NEARLY one-third of adults in Wales have been troubled by suspicions of child abuse or neglect within their communities.

This alarming statistic underscores a pressing need for awareness and action—a need the NSPCC is addressing head-on with its innovative, bilingual workshops.

A YouGov survey, canvassing 3,999 adults across the UK with 181 respondents from Wales, exposes a disturbing inertia: 20% of UK adults hesitated to act on their concerns about child abuse. In Wales alone, 29% of adults have encountered potential cases of mistreatment, spotlighting a critical gap in intervention.

Participants cited significant hurdles to action, including uncertainty (‘I wasn’t sure it was abuse’), fear of exacerbating the situation (‘I worried I might make things worse’), and a lack of tangible evidence (‘I couldn’t prove abuse was happening’).

The NSPCC’s ‘Listen Up, Speak Up’ initiative is not just another campaign; it’s a clarion call for community involvement. With its roots in a successful pilot in Newport, this campaign now offers comprehensive, bilingual resources aimed at equipping Welsh and English speakers alike with the tools to support vulnerable children.

Diving deeper, the survey reveals the private struggles of Welsh parents: over half grapple with challenges they feel ill-equipped to manage alone. A significant number fear judgment, yet many express openness to unsolicited support, indicating a community ready to embrace help.

The power of community intervention is vividly illustrated in the story of Gareth*, a Welsh resident whose early life was transformed by the kindness of neighbors. This personal account not only humanises the statistics but also exemplifies the profound impact of community action.

Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, emphasises the universal nature of this challenge: “Every day, we cross paths with children—each encounter an opportunity to make a difference. With 73% of UK adults feeling unprepared to address child welfare concerns, our ‘Listen Up, Speak Up’ program offers essential, accessible training for everyone.”

The journey to safer communities begins with awareness and education. The NSPCC invites individuals and organisations alike to join the ‘Listen Up, Speak Up’ movement. Whether through hosting a workshop or signing up for digital training, every effort counts towards protecting our children. To learn more, visit the NSPCC website or contact their local campaigns team.

Through workshops and online training, ‘Listen Up, Speak Up’ aims to inspire adults across the UK to play their part in keeping children safe, by taking action to support children and families. The campaign, now fully bilingual and including workshops and online resources in Welsh, recognises the challenges of parenting and the benefits of communal support.

The ‘Listen Up, Speak Up’ workshops, led by the NSPCC and available to schools, businesses, organisations, and community groups, advise on recognising signs of risk, approaching difficult conversations, and where to turn when concerned about a child or their family.

Lili Dunn, Local Campaigns Manager for Wales, emphasises the collective responsibility: “We believe everyone can play a part in keeping children safe, equipped with the knowledge of what to do when concerned a child is at risk.”

A series of follow-up emails to the online training will share more advice on how to listen to and support children and families, introducing helpful services and resources, including advice on everyday challenges families may face.

So far, more than 25,000 people have signed up to ‘Listen Up, Speak Up’ digital training. The charity aims to reach one million people and organisations across the UK over the next 10 years, inspiring them to take actions in their community.

Gareth’s testimony and the NSPCC’s efforts underscore the critical role of individual and collective action in safeguarding children’s well-being. By raising awareness, offering practical tools, and encouraging community engagement, the ‘Listen Up, Speak Up’ campaign seeks to make a lasting difference in the lives of children across Wales and beyond.

Community

Pembs Agricultural Society’s Christmas Fair expands to an all-weekend event

Published

7 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S Christmas Fair will be an all-weekend event next month. The Christmas shopping extravaganza is all set to take place on Saturday, 14 December as well as Sunday, 15 December.

The Parkhouse building on the Haverfordwest Showground will be transformed into a Christmas paradise. There will be even more stalls this year with a wide variety of quality local businesses exhibiting as well as festive music, Santa in his Grotto and an outdoor food court.

Judith Roach and Emma Thomas, the event organisers, said, “We are excited to be able to announce that our Christmas Fair will be on for two days rather than just one this year. We continue to build on the success of last year’s event with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. It will be the perfect start to the festive season as the Parkhouse Building will be transformed into a one-stop-shop for those preparing for Christmas.”

The Fair will be open from 10am until 4pm and admission is free. Visitors will find unique gifts, handmade decorations, art and beautiful homeware. Some of the county’s very best food and drink producers will also have stalls to give visitors the opportunity to stock up on all their festive treats. From decadent chocolate brownies, fudge, festive spirits to Welsh cheeses, there’s something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds. There will also be a range of outlets for ‘on the go’ eating and drinking.

One special guest at the event will be everyone’s favourite bearded gentleman in red – Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. There will be a charge of £3 per child to visit Santa and all proceeds will go directly to Sandy Bear charity to support their work. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa as part of their visit. Parents can book in advance via the website: www.sandybear.co.uk/santa

Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President is looking forward to the festive event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Judith and Emma for all the hours they have put in, voluntarily, to organise the two-day Christmas event. We’re delighted to be able to offer visitors the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

Follow Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for a full list of stallholders in the run up to the event.

Community

Officials announced for 2026 Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire

Published

18 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD returns to Pembrokeshire in 2026, and organisers have named the officials who will steer this major cultural event over the next year and a half.

With the artistic and local committees already established, meetings to finalise competitions and adjudicators are underway to ensure the List of Competitions is ready by spring. Committee members have also been voting over the past weeks to elect key officials for the Executive Committee.

John Davies, former leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, has been appointed Chair of the Executive Committee. Known for his deep connection to Pembrokeshire and extensive experience with national organisations, Davies aims to make the Eisteddfod a true community event, welcoming involvement from all corners of the region.

Tegryn Jones, Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, takes on the role of Deputy Chair (Strategy). With a strong passion for Welsh culture and language, Jones brings a wealth of experience working with local communities, visitors, and volunteers across three counties.

Deputy Chair (Culture) is Carys Ifan, Director of Canolfan Egin and a seasoned cultural organiser. Based in Llangrannog and originally from Llandudoch, Ifan has led numerous artistic and community projects across the region.

Cris Tomos, a community development veteran with over 30 years of experience, will lead the 2026 Eisteddfod Local Fund. Working with PLANED, a community development charity, Tomos has supported countless community enterprises and co-operatives in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire.

Non Davies, recently elected as Executive Committee Secretary, brings extensive cultural management expertise as Ceredigion County Council’s Corporate Manager for Culture. Having chaired the Cardigan Local Fund Committee for the 2022 Ceredigion Eisteddfod, Davies is well-versed in managing cultural projects.

National Eisteddfod Chief Executive, Betsan Moses, said: “We’re looking forward to working with John and the team over the next few months as we prepare for the 2026 Eisteddfod.

“There’s almost a quarter of a century since the Eisteddfod was last held in Pembrokeshire, and we’re very much looking forward to returning to the area. 2026 is an important year for us as we celebrate 850 years since the first Eisteddfod was held in Cardigan Castle in 1176.

“We’re looking forward to working in a new way within a catchment area which includes parts of another two counties, which is, of course, a chance to work with local people in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire again.”

Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks, including the sale of competition prizes and opportunities to donate the Crown and the Chair.

The National Eisteddfod will be held in Llantood from August 1–8, 2026.

Charity

Kurtz goes Jurassic as Pantosaurus visits Senedd NSPCC Campaign

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Richard Lewis

THIS WEEK, the NSPCC’s annual campaign to safeguard children from sexual abuse reached the steps of the Senedd.

Pantosaurus, the friendly mascot of the NSPCC’s PANTS campaign, appeared to raise awareness among Members of the Senedd and the wider public about the vital importance of child safety. The campaign encourages parents and carers to talk openly with young children about risks and protective measures.

The PANTS campaign is built around five key child protection messages:

Privates are private.
Always remember your body belongs to you.
No means no.
Talk about secrets that upset you.
Speak up; someone can help.

After meeting Pantosaurus, Samuel Kurtz MS, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, expressed his support for the campaign

He said: “I wholeheartedly support this important NSPCC initiative. Since its launch in 2013, it has empowered over six million families to discuss this sensitive subject.

“This issue affects communities across Wales, so promoting the five principles of PANTS is essential for everyone in Pembrokeshire and beyond.”