NSPCC looking for new volunteers to deliver vital safety messages in South West primary schools

The charity’s Schools Service delivers Speak out Stay safe assemblies and workshops to primary schools across the region, and desperately needs more volunteers to help reach even more.

Speak Out Stay Safe is designed to help children aged five to 11 understand how to recognise abuse in all its forms. Using age-appropriate language, it helps them understand that abuse is never a child’s fault, that they have the right to be safe, and how to get help from safe adults or the NSPCC’s Childline service.

Through assemblies and workshops delivered by volunteers and with the help of mascot Buddy, children learn about the different types of abuse and what to do if they're ever worried about themselves or a friend.

This month the NSPCC is seeking new volunteers to help deliver this important service to schools across Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset. Last year the NSPCC delivered the programme to more than 147,000 children in more than 647 schools across the South West.

Sue Pinnell, 68, lives in Yate, near Bristol, and has been a volunteer with the NSPCC’s schools service for almost seven years.

She said: “I saw an advertisement on Facebook for volunteers, I was looking for some voluntary work to do when I retired and I felt my training skills would be beneficial for this role.

“I love delivering Speak out Stay safe workshops, giving key messages to the children in a fun and engaging way. It’s important that they know about different types of abuse and who they can go to if they are worried or scared about something. It’s also a great way of meeting other volunteers and working together.

“Being an NSPCC volunteer means you can make a difference to children. Once you start doing it you will love it and want to do more as it’s so satisfying. You get to work with, and be supported by, like minded people who all want to do the same thing – encouraging children to Speak out Stay safe.”

All NSPCC Schools Service volunteers are required to give a minimum commitment of visiting two schools a month and they will receive training and support from their dedicated coordinator.

Michelle Green, NSPCC Schools Service Manager for the South West, said: “We would love to hear from anyone who can spare just a few hours each month to help share vital Speak out Stay safe messaging with children and young people in Cornwall.

“Our volunteers have told us that they consider it a privilege to raise children’s awareness of their right to be safe, and many feel that through the Schools Service they have also gained a sense of pride, confidence and empowerment by delivering these workshops and sharing the important messaging.”

Anyone interested in becoming a Schools Service volunteer can sign up for a volunteer information meeting by going to https://join-us.nspcc.org.uk/volunteers/vacancy/6597/description

Or for more information contact [email protected]