I have had the priviledge to meet John Poyton, the Chief Executive of Redthread as well as Karim Abdullah who is a Youth Worker at Kings College Hospital. They are both inspirational and the work they do, along with their colleagues, is absolutely incredible.
A&E Work
Our Youth Violence Intervention Programme runs in London’s four Major Trauma Centre hospitals. There, our innovative service aims to reduce serious youth violence across the capital, and has revolutionised the support available to young victims of violence.
Every year thousands of young people aged 11 – 25 come through London’s hospital doors as victims of assault and exploitation. It is then, at this time of crisis, that our youth workers utilise their unique position embedded in the A&E departments alongside clinical staff, to engage these young victims.
Our extensive experience tells us that this moment of vulnerability, the ‘Teachable Moment’, when young people are out of their comfort zone, alienated from their peers, and often coming to terms with the effects of injury, is a time of change. In this moment many are more able than ever to question what behaviour and choices have led them to this hospital bed and, with specialist youth worker support, pursue change they haven’t felt able to before.
We focus on this moment and encourage and support young people in making healthy choices and positive plans to disrupt the cruel cycle of violence that can too easily lead to re-attendance, re-injury, and devastated communities.
The Well Centre
When young people told us that accessing everyday health provisions was often complicated by practical issues and concerns regarding social stigma, Redthread listened. In 2011, in partnership with Dr Stephanie Lamb, the Well Centre model was born
London Gang Exit
Redthread is delighted to be a delivery partner, alongside Safer London and Only Connect, of London Gang Exit – launched February 2016. This new service means that for the first time ever, anyone aged 16-24, regardless of what London borough they live in, can get support to exit. The service is designed to complement and enhance existing local services across London, and fill in the gaps in provision.
London Gang Exit is the first pan-London service for anyone aged 16-24, regardless of their gender. This includes those who are at risk from gangs and those who pose a risk of harm to others. This approach is unique as it recognises the complexities of gang involvement and the blurring of lines between offender and victim.
All work delivered through the London Gang Exit service is tailored to the specific needs of the young person. This could include mental health support, employment support, and specialised support for young women, for example counselling following sexual exploitation.
Young people are allocated a trained caseworker to provide intensive holistic support, advocate on their behalf and build an effective and consistent relationship with them over an extended period of time.
There are eligibility criteria for making a referral. Please visit http://www.redthread.org.uk/what-we-do/#london-gang-exit for all the details.
referrals can be made by phone on 0785 0282 2499 or by e-mailing LondonGangExitReferral@londoncrc.org.uk
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/14_plus/
Since the invention of social media, more and more focus has been on documenting our lives online. Often there is pressure to present a life to others that seems almost movie-like in its perfection. In reality, life doesn’t work that way. And now the internet seems to be fighting back.
This website covers many issues that young people have to face in this digital age. it highlights the story of Amanda Todd who comitted suicide after being cyberbullied.
London Nightline
We are a confidential listening, support and practical information service for students in London and Open University. You can talk to us about anything – big or small – in complete confidence. We won’t judge you or tell you how to run your life: we’ll simply listen to whatever is on your mind.
All our volunteers are students themselves, who have undergone extensive training and who understand that university life isn’t always plain sailing.
Helpline: 0207 631 0101
Email: listening@nightline.org.uk
Description of service
Confidential listening, support and practical information service for students in London and Open University.
Key Focus
Support for students
Age Range
18 and over
Opening Times
6pm to 8am every night of term
Area Of Operation
Greater London
Referral Method
Self referral
Registered Charity Number
101 5744
Topics
Education
Emotional Distress
Mental Health
Here is a list of the affiliated education establishments:
Brunel University SU
Central School of Speech and Drama
Courtauld Institute
of Art Students’ Union
Coventry University in London
Danenberg Oberlin-in-London Program
Glasgow and Caledonian University in London
Grinnell-in-London
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Heythrop College
HULT
International Business School in London
Imperial College London
Institute of Cancer Research
INTO London World Education Centre
King’s College London
Kingston University
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Mountbatten Institute
Middlesex University
National Film and Television School
Newcastle University in London
New York University in London
Open University (all campuses)
Queen Mary University SU
Ravensbourne College
of Design
Royal Academy of Music
Royal College of Art
Royal College of Music
Royal Holloway
Royal Veterinary College
School of Oriental and African Studies
St. George’s Hospital Medical School
Trinity Laban
Conservatoire of Music and Dance
University College London
University for the Creative Arts
University of the Arts
University of Coventry in London
University College of Estate Management
University of Greenwich
University
of Law
University of West London
University of Westminster
The Mix
This website is amazing. It has a plethora of information-all really valuable!
Helpline: 0808 808 4994
Description of service
Confidential helpline for young people. The helpline operates by telephone, email, webchat and SMS. The aim of Get Connected is to find young people the best help, whatever the problem. Callers can be connected free of charge to local or national helplines when appropriate. The Team can help with issues including abuse, violence, bullying, harassment and discrimination, citizenship and cultural issues, rights, addictions, education and training, families, mental health, gender identity and sexual orientation, self harm, housing, money matters, heatlh, sex and relationships. Calls to 0808 80 numbers are free to call from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills.
Key Focus
Confidential help for young people
Age Range
Young people up to 25 years
Opening Times
Open every day, 11am-11pm for all services
Area Of Operation
Whole of UK
Referral Method
Self referral
Registered Charity Number
1048995
Registered Company Number
3979905
Topics
Children and Young People
Emotional Distress
Some of the issues covered are as follows:
Sex and relationships:
Your Body:
Mental Health:
Drink and Drugs:
Housing:
Money:
Work and Study:
Crime and Safety:
Travel and Lifestyle:
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do.htm
Barnardo’s transforms the lives of the most vulnerable children across the UK through the work of our services, campaigning and research expertise.
We believe we can bring out the very best in every child whether the issue is child poverty, sexual exploitation, disability or domestic violence.
Over the Christmas period I had the pleasure of meeting some lovely people. They were young and intelligent and trying to make sense of the world and why they were feeling the way they were.
I thought it might be useful to have a look at some of the apps that might be helpful with managing some of these feelings.
The site (http://www.thesite.org/) is a really great site for the Young. Here are some of the apps they recommend:
Stressheads - Don't stress it. Beat it.
ARGHH WHY IS LIFE SO HARD!!!!!!!
Stressheads turns your phone into a stress killing machine! Simply hatch a Stresshead (from a stress egg… obviously), and take the strains of life out on your very own pet peeve. Chuck them around, rough them up – and eventually impale them on a MASSIVE SPIKE (ah…that’s better). And all the while, you can access some great advice – helping you deal with all kinds of life stress, from exam pressure to money problems.
Phew… that really is better. Download Stressheads today & give stress a good kicking.
Motimator is the best way to get the career you want, by giving you the kick-up-the-arse you need to make it happen.
Every day Motimator offers you a mixture of expert tips and motivational advice to help your search for a better career. Whether you’re looking for your first ever job, want to get promoted, or crave a new role entirely, Motimator will help you make it happen.
Your mate makes career goals more manageable by breaking them down, and offers you daily encouragement and advice to keep the job-seeking blues at bay.
Just pick a goal, give it a deadline and your very own mate will guide your there – building your confidence and helping stop all that procrastination along the way.
Find out more about Motimator.
StepFinder - Local help, easily found
Got a problem, need local help? StepFinder pin-points your nearest local support service and shows you how to get there using your phone. It shows you tips and recommendations from other young people so you know what to expect when you use a service for the first time.
StepFinder is a totally free and confidential.
So take control, and navigate to the right support.
Find out more about the StepFinder app here.
Wishfund - Keeping track of what you’re saving for
The aim of the Wishfund app is to inspire you to take control of your finances by saving towards a particular goal, such as a new phone or a holiday with friends. Once a goal is set up, you can assign a motivating image to it and update its details at any time.
The app allows you to enter a target date by which they wish to achieve the goal and the total amount of money needed. The app then calculates how much money you’ll need to budget each week to meet your target date.
This app was co-created by a group of young volunteers and built by Money Advice Service in collaboration with with YoungScot, YouthNet and Storm ID.
MoodGYM is a free, fun, interactive program consisting of five modules, which help you to explore:
We would like to think that by the time you finish MoodGYM you will have:
Interested in trying MoodGYM? (It's free)
Please visit: https://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome/new/splash
Different Strokes:
0845 130 7172 / 01908 317618
www.differentstrokes.co.uk
Registered charity providing unique free services to younger
stroke survivors throughout the UK. Helps stroke survivors of working age to optimize their recovery, take control of their own lives and regain as much independence as possible by offering rehabilitative services, information and advice. Network of different
stroke exercise groups, telephone helpline, counselling network.
Fearless is a site where you can access non-judgemental information and advice about crime and criminality.
What makes this site different is we also provide you with a safe place to give information to us about crime - 100% anonymously.
If you have any information about crime and are unsure who you can pass this onto - you can be fearless and let us know 100% anonymously.
We're avaliable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - 365 days a year for you.
If you know something that has happened, have information about a place or person that has been involved in a crime or you know a crime is being planned you can let us know safely without passing on any of your personal details using the
It's important to remember that we are not a replacement for the emergency services so our advice if something is happening that needs immediate action - ring 999.
Bullying affects everyone involved and no one comes out the winner.It can be physically and/or mentally abusive. In whichever form it takes, it is cruel and it is unecessary.
By law, all state (not private) schools must have a behaviour policy in place that includes measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils.From my experience, private schools can sometimes be the worst platform for bullying. In whatever environment it takes place, it is damaging and it can be deadly.
Bullying takes place outside school (usually on the journey to and from school)
You should know that Head teachers have the legal power to make sure pupils behave outside of school premises (state schools only).This includes bullying that happens anywhere off the school premises, eg on public transport or in a town centre.
School staff can also choose to report bullying to the police or local council.
There are lots of organisations that provide support and advice if you’re worried about bullying:
There is no legal definition of bullying.
However, it’s usually defined as behaviour that is:
It takes many forms and can include:
Your school should have its own definition of bullying.
ACAS - (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations.
Anti-bullying Alliance - is a coalition of organisations and individuals working together to stop bullying and create safe environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn.
Bullying UK – part of Family Lives. Provides help on all forms of bullying - at school, cyberbullying, racism, homophobia, bullying in sport etc.
Childnet International - information, advice, resources for children, parents and getting the most out of new technology and safe and responsible us.
EACH - Education Action Challenging Homophobia - challenges homophobia, specifically homophobic bullying, through education.
EyePAT - online safety and anti-bullying training for a variety of groups such as schools, social workers, foster carers and those who include children or vulnerable adults; as well as bullying in the workplace.
Kidscape - anti-bullying helpline for parents.
Network for Surviving Stalking - Network for Surviving Stalking aims to provide support to victims, potential victims and others affected by stalking/harassment throughout the UK.
Red Balloon - Provide an 'intensive care' full-time education for children aged between 9 and 18 who are unable to go to school because they have been severely bullied or who have suffered trauma.
Schools out - provides a support network to raise the issue of homophobia in schools
STANCE - the comprehensive 'Whole School' resource pack for addressing homophobic bullying.
Stonewall - working for positive change for gay lesbian and bisexual people in the UK with an education program: Education for all
PAPYRUS – prevention of young suicide - resources and helpline support for those dealing with suicidal feelings or emotional distress.
Samaritans - emotional support to anyone in distress or at risk of suicide.
Understanding Childhood - provides free downloadable information leaflets for families and childcare professionals to help raise emotionally secure children
Other useful sites that are related to self harming which often transpires from bullying:
Harmless - provides information, support, training and consultancy for people who self harm, as well as their friends, families and professionals.
National Self Harm Network - our priority is to support survivors and people who self-harm. We also support the people it indirectly affects, like family and friends, they can discuss the issue and gain effective support in our forums.
Young Minds - supporting people who self-harm. We also support the people it indirectly affects, like family and friends, they can discuss the issue and gain effective support in our forums.
The Family Lives website at http://www.familylives.org.uk/ gives plenty of information on many different types of bullying from cuber bullying to bullying on social media. it also provides links to other useful websites:
http://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/useful-links/
This website is pretty cool. It covers lots of different topics such as Mental Health, Money, Work and Study, Crime and Safety, Travel and Lifestyle and queries about your body.
There are some cool apps available for a range of issues from relationships to stress (see below)
Being stressed out sucks because stress turns your brain to goo, stopping you making decisions and piling up until it feels like your head’s going to explode (*pop*).
But what if you could turn your screen into a stress-relief tool? Simply hatch a Stresshead below and relax as you chase your very own pet peeve around until you catch it and smash it. And while you’re doing that, you can get great advice – helping you deal with all kinds of life stress, from exam pressure to money problems.
Rough-up your Stressheads on the move – download it for iOS and Android now.
(Use headphones, full screen and turn your phone to landscape to best experience Stressheads.)
Spikey Anti Drink Spiking Stopper
Most date rape drugs take effect within 15-30 minutes and symptoms usually last for several hours. However, if you pass out it will be hard to know the full effect. You may still feel some of the symptoms of a date rape drug after a night's sleep. If you have CYD test strips with you, check your drink as soon as you feel strange. Although your symptoms will depend on which drug has been used, they usually include some of the following:
There is a good article about CYD in Cosmopolitan. Please see the link below.
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/worklife/campus/news/a31820/check-your-drink-anti-spike-device/
The URL to visit for more information and where to buy these testing strips is : http://www.checkyourdrink.co.uk/
The emergencySMS service is an add on to the existing 999 and 18000 services that are available in the UK. Your SMS text message will be connected to 999 through the Text Relay 18000 service.
A relay assistant will speak your SMS message to the 999 advisor, their reply will be sent back to you as an SMS message.
If you send another SMS text message the relay assistant will read it to the 999 advisor and send their reply back to you.
REGISTER YOUR PHONE AT www.emergencysms.org.uk
Welcome to Word 4 Weapons. So far we have helped save lives by collecting over 11,000 weapons voluntarily handed in.
Word 4 Weapons is a multi-award winning, faith based organisation founded in 2007 by Michael Smith to counteract the wave of knife and gun crime which is devastating our communities. There are now in excess of 25 across Greater London. Weapons are openly used on our streets leaving individuals in fear, injured or killed. We are doing something different to bring back the true value of life to a society that is becoming numb to violent crime.
Contact Details:
The ‘This is Abuse’ campaign is targeted at 13 to 18 year old boys and girls.
Provides resources for the ‘This is Abuse’ campaign, including the discussion guide, posters, postcards, leaflets and other resource toolkits.
Teenage rape prevention: support materials
'This is abuse': discussion guide
Earlier this year the Home Office ran a campaign to challenge the attitudes of teenagers to violence and abuse in relationships. The following…
Earlier this year the Home Office ran a campaign to challenge the attitudes of teenagers to violence and abuse in relationships.
The following documents contain advice for schools and teenagers on dealing with issues around teenage relationship abuse. We would like to thank Women’s Aid, Against Violence and Abuse and Womankind for their help in the development of these materials
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE:
The NSPCC runs around 180 services for children, young people and their families across the UK. These services carry out vital work to protect children in every area of their lives - at home, at school, and in the community.
The NSPCC also provides support and advice via its listening services, which include the NSPCC Helpline for adults and ChildLine for children and young people. (see below)
Helpline: 0808 800 5000, and Asian Helpline, every day, 24 hours a day (freephone)
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Website: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/
CHILDLINE
ChildLine counsellors are trained staff and volunteers who all have experience of listening and talking to children and young people.
ChildLine is supported by the NSPCC.
Childline: 0800 11 11, every day, 24 hours a day (freephone)
Website: http://www.childline.org.uk
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4pm, free for mobiles and landlines).
Email: parents@youngminds.org.uk
To find your local CAMHS service: speak to your GP who can refer you, or visit NHS Choices - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and search for services in your area.
■ For general enquiries about YoungMinds, Call: 020 7089 5050
■ If you are an adult worried about a child, email: parents@youngminds.org.uk.
For general enquiries: ymenquiries@youngminds.org.uk or use the form at the bottom of this page. We'll try to get back to you within 48 hours.
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Mon-Fri,10am-5pm & 7pm-10pm. Weekends 2pm-5pm)
Website: http://www.papyrus-uk.org
Support to children and young people under 16 and those around them, to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse.
Kidscape equips young people, parents and professionals with the skills to tackle bullying and safeguarding issues across the UK.
Kidscape
2 Grosvenor Gardens
London SW1W 0DH
info@kidscape.org.uk
Website: http://www.kidscape.org.uk
Student helpline in most UK universities
Website: http://www.nightline.ac.uk
Lists all the universities in England that are in alliance with Nightline as well as contact details for those who wish to speak to someone at night.
Comprehensive information and discussion for UK students about depression and common student problems.
Website: http://www.studentdepression.org
This is a website about young people’s real life experiences of health and lifestyle. This is not just a website about the medical facts, this is about real people and real lives. Watch, listen and read young people talking about their experiences, and feel free to join in the forums.
Website: http://www.youthhealthtalk.org/
For advice on unplanned pregnancy or if you are concerned after you have had an abortion, call CARE confidential on 0800 028 2228 (This is a UK Free phone number)
For further advice on on unplanned pregnancies or if you have had an abortion, please call the British Preganancy Advisory Service (BPAS) on 08457 30 40 30
Residential refuge for people in extreme suicidal distress and despair. Maytree provides support 24 hours a day. They are a very small team, so you might go through to an answering machine and someone will call you back. You can talk to Maytree about anything totally confidentially. They offer a place to stay away from your current problems to reflect and rethink your options
Tel: 0207 263 7070
Website: http://www.maytree.org.uk
Information for anyone being bullied or concerned with bullying.
Tel 0808 800 2222
Website: http://www.bullying.co.uk/
• COAP (Children of Addicted Parents)
Online forum for young people affected by a parent’s addiction.
Website: http://www.coap.org.uk
Tel: 0207 763 6270
This website provides links for many more external helpful sites (see below)
Abs Kids - Anti-Bullying Shared - www.abs-kids.co.uk
Action For Children - www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-services/family-support/targeted-intervention
Action on Addiction - www.actiononaddiction.org.uk
Addaction - www.addaction.org.uk
AdFam - www.adfam.org.uk
Adult Children of Alcoholics - www.adultchildrenofalcoholics.co.uk
Al-Anon and Al-ateen - 12 Step programmes to help people affected by somenone who drinks - www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Alcohol Action Ireland - www.alcoholireland.ie
Barnados - www.barnardos.org.uk
Barnados - Time for Me Project - www.barnardos.org.uk/timeforme.htm
BEAT - Beating Eating Disorders - www.b-eat.co.uk
Bullying Online - www.bullying.co.uk
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre - www.ceop.gov.uk
Childline - www.childline.org.uk
Chipmunka Publishing - Mental Health Publisher - www.chipmunkapublishing.co.uk
Core Kids - Marylebone, Wandsworth, Hertfordshire - www.corekids.org
Counselling Directory - www.counselling-directory.org.uk
Counsellors UK - www.helptoheal.co.uk
D-World - by Drugscope - www.drugscope-dworld.org.uk
Depression UK - www.depressionuk.org
Do-It - www.do-it.org.uk
Drugfam - www.drugfam.co.uk
Drugsline - www.drugsline.org
Families Anonymous - www.famanon.org.uk
Gamcare - www.gamcare.org.uk
Get Connected - www.getconnected.org.uk
Teen Help - www.teenhelp.org
The Rise Foundation (Ireland) - www.therisefoundation.ie
Kids Company - www.kidsco.org.uk
Kids Zone - The Children's Society - www.thekidszone.org.uk
Mouse Party - http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/drugs/mouse.html
NACOA National Association for Children of Alcoholics - www.nacoa.org.uk
Outside Edge Theatre - outsidedgetheatre.com
RD4U - www.rd4u.org.uk – Bereavement
Recover Your Life - www.recoveryourlife.com – online self-harm community
Samaritans - www.samaritans.org
Stars National Initiative - www.starsnationalinitiative.org.uk
Talking About Cannabis - www.talkingaboutcannabis.com
The Children's Society - www.childrenssociety.org.uk
Turn to Me - Mental Health - www.turn2me.org
Turning Point - www.turning-point.co.uk
Winston's Wish - www.winstonswish.org.uk
Young Carers - www.youngcarer.com
Young Carers - www.youngcarers.net
Young Minds - www.youngminds.org.uk
YouthNet - www.youthnet.org
Website: http://www.thehideout.org.uk/
Need to Talk? If you need to talk, you can call CHILDLINE - it is free and confidential.
Tel: 0800 1111
Websites for children and young people
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre - working across the UK to tackle child sex abuse and offering parents advice and support.
Childline - free, 24 hour helpline for children and young people in danger or distress.
Everyman Project - aims to help men change their violent or abusive behaviour.
MOSAC - support for all non-abusing parents and carers whose children have been sexually abused. Provides support, advice, information and counsellling.
NAPAC - support for people abused in childhood
NSPCC - advice on child abuse and cruelty.
NSPCC - What can I do - Protecting your child from sexual abuse - link to PDF document from the NSPCC about protecting your child from sexual abuse.
NSPCC - Advice for Parents - Keeping Children Safe - advice for Parents about keeping children safe.
NSPCC - Child Abuse - Parents tell their own stories about Child Abuse - parents tell their own stories about Child Abuse
Stop it Now! - aims to prevent child sexual abuse by increasing public awareness and empowering people to act responsibly to protect children.
www.burstingthebubble.com
Australian site for young people experiencing abuse.
www.breakthecycle.org
US site. Aims to empower and educate youth to live a life free from dating and domestic abuse.
http://www.dvirc.org.au/whenlove/
Australian site. When Love Hurts is a guide for girls on love, respect and abuse in relationships.
Anti Knife Crime Campaign - provides advice, ideas, support and resources for local anti knife crime
BROOK - free and confidential sexual health advice and contraception to young people up to the age of 25.
ChildLine - free, 24 hour helpline for children and young people in danger or distress.
National Careers Service - help and information for young people 13-19 years.
Get Connected - provides young people with help on finding a service to help them, whatever the problem.
National Youth Advocacy - advocacy services for children and young people up to the age of 25.
NCH - It's not your fault - practical info for children, young people and parents going through a family break-up.
NSPCC - National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Talking Point - information about speech, language and communication difficulties in children.
The Hideout - provides indirect and informal support to children and young people living with domestic violence or those who may want to help a friend. Also signposts to additional help and direct support.
Youngcarers.net - advice, support and information for children and young people who have a caring responsibility for someone in their family who has a physical or mental illness, a disability or substance misuse problem. The site also contains a section with information for parents.
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