A new campaign from the local Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership asks children and young people to #TellSomeone if they feel unsafe.
The campaign will take place across a range of social media channels, targeting different age groups from primary school upwards, telling them to tell someone they trust or call national charity Childline if they feel unsafe in their environment during the current lockdown conditions.
A spokesperson for the partnership said “It can be hard for children and young people to understand what is going on at the moment as virtually every aspect of their daily routine has changed.
“For some children this period of isolation has left them without their usual support systems such as teachers, extended family and friends. This lack of regular contact with trusted people can put children at increased risk of abuse or neglect, so we are asking people to check on family, friends and loved ones and contact the relevant teams should they or you need support.
We are also asking everyone who uses social media to share our messages when they see them as they could help a child or young person who is stuck in a situation where they feel unsafe to seek the help they need.”
For more information, search for #TellSomeone on social media or visit www.pdscp.co.uk
The new Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership replaces the two previous Local Safeguarding Children Boards.
The partnership is jointly and equally led by Dorset Police, NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council and Dorset Council and is responsible for the leadership and multi-agency coordination of the safeguarding arrangements across Dorset, working to strengthen collaboration, learn from local and national practice and continuously improve services to enable children and young people across Dorset to feel safe in their homes and out in the community.
