new safeguarding workshops in supported accommodation at asphaleia

Our Safeguarding Lead, Meghan, has recently started providing workshops with young people in our care services once a month.

These workshops are 20-minute sessions that form part of an 8-week programme of content. The topics covered include; British values, hate crime, prevent, healthy relationships and consent, drugs and alcohol, criminal offending, abuse, gangs, and online safety. Meghan is also responsive to issues that are current or important to the young people in our services and if we see a session coming up that is relevant for a specific young person, we encourage them to take part.

Meghan says, "These workshops are created around the lived experiences of young people that we support. They go alongside our flatmate and housemate schemes to support our young people to gain independent living skills and the knowledge and skills to make choices to keep themselves safe. Plus to have some fun discussions/activities and to get to know each other better!"

One of the young people who attended said, "I like the format of the session and found the information interesting."

Meghan is keen that the sessions don't feel like a school lesson and that though they can seem to cover negative topics, Meghan aims for the sessions to feel positive and empowering. She includes something visual the young people can follow but centres the session around a conversation, adapting it to the group where there may be different levels of English and certainly, different life experiences.

These workshops are also an opportunity for young people to have their voices heard. They are asked for feedback on topics they feel have been overlooked and things they want to learn about. We want the young people to feel it’s relevant for them and the sessions are here for their benefit - a part of their journey to independence.