Keeping safe is something we all try to do, either when we’re online, or out and about.

As with everything else, there is information on the internet about staying safe, and we’ve gathered some of it here, as a starting place for you to look.

Staying safe online

Having access to the internet is an important part of most people’s lives today, and it’s important to stay safe when you are using it.

CEOP are an organisation who help to keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. You can visit their website for advice about reporting any concerns you have: CEOP Safety Centre. They also have lots of useful advice and guides about staying safe when you’re online, including when you are socialising online and how to spot healthy and unhealthy relationships 11-18s | CEOP Education (thinkuknow.co.uk).

Internet Matters was launched in 2014 by its founding partners, BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media and it has guides to help you, help yourself when you’re using social media online. Firstly there is Social Media Tips – First Steps, which is useful if you don’t already have any social media accounts such as Facebook or Instagram. Do the basics on social media, this has quick tips on how you can review (or set up) your social media accounts, so you can connect safely with others online. Finally The Hard Stuff on social media, offers advice about how you can spot and stop anything that makes you feel uncomfortable when you’re online.

Another useful website offering all sorts of advice about staying safe online is Childnet they are a UK-based charity launched in 1995 whose mission is to make the internet a safe place for children and young people. Their website has advice on different topics aimed at 11 to 18 year olds. This section covers things like gaming, Video calls, fake news and online sexual harassment. Help & advice 11-18 yr olds - Childnet

The Council for Disabled Children have produced a short video for young people with SEND with information about how to stay safe and what to do if you’re a victim of cyber bullying:

Keeping safe when you’re out and about

Again the internet has lots of information to help to keep you safe when you’re out and about.

For young people with learning disabilities, the charity Mencap has a whole section on keeping yourself safe both online, at school (or it could be college) and when you’re out, you can read it here:  Stay safe - Bullying.

Another useful page on a website is: Safeguarding and keeping safe - Sense. This page is about safeguarding for children and adults with complex disabilities or learning disabilities and tells you about what abuse is and what to do if you think you are being abused.

The National Autistic Society has a section on their website about Transport, which includes a page with useful tips about Travelling by train or bus as well as a bit on driving.

Finally, again for those older young people, the Northern Ireland Government have produced a Travel Safe – a guide for people with learning disabilities which you may find useful.

Safe Places

Our Way have developed a list of Safe Places, including shops, cafes and libraries who have pledged that if people are worried or scared they can go into these dedicated Safe Place. Please find the lists at the link below. Safe Places can seen in communities where they have this distinctive yellow sticker.

Safe Places | Our Way Self Advocacy