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A third of children have adult social media accounts – Ofcom

by Mental HealthNews & UpdatesParentingPress Articles

SOURCE LINK

One in three children lie about their age to access adult content on social media, according to research commissioned by the regulator, Ofcom.

Many social media sites, such as Instagram, do not permit under-13s to sign up, while accounts for under-18s have limited functionality.

But researchers found children were faking their ages to skirt the rules.

Ofcom says this increases the risk of children seeing content which may be inappropriate or harmful.

Anna-Sophie Harling, from Ofcom, told BBC News the way social media platforms categorised users by age had a “huge impact” on the content they were shown.

She cited the recent Molly Russell inquest: “That was a very specific case of harmful content that had very detrimental impacts and tragic outcomes on a family in the UK.

“When we talk about potentially harmful content to under-18s, it’s content that might have more significant negative consequences for under-18s because they’re still developing.

“When children are repeatedly exposed to images and videos that contain certain images, they’re then essentially led to act in different ways or to think differently about themselves or their friends.”

Children using social media

The Ofcom-commissioned research found 32% of children have an account intended for adults, while 47% of children aged eight to 15 have a user age of 16 and over.

And 60% of children under the age of 13 who use social media accounts have their own profiles, despite not being old enough.

Ms Harling said the age categorizations were meant to be “one of the main ways” in which platforms protected the safety of their users.

“If we want to get serious about protecting children online, we need to make sure that platforms have a way to find out exactly how old those users are,” she said.

“We need to work both with parents and young people, but also platforms, to make sure that the ages at which those accounts are set are done in an accurate way.”

YouTube says it has made investments to protect children, such as launching a dedicated children’s app and introducing new data practices for children’s content.

The BBC also approached Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, for comment. A spokesperson referred to the latest work from Meta on verifying the ages of younger users, such as allowing people to “ask others to vouch for their age” or using technology which analyses videos people take of themselves.

Twitter and TikTok have also been approached for comment.

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Point of View – DP9

by Point of View

Part 1 . The London Landscape​

The project will start with the young creatives travelling across London, gaining a glimpse of what it’s like to live and work in London. From visiting iconic buildings to visiting consultants that work across Dominvs’s developments, the young people will start to understand what real estate is from the bottom to the top level boardroom through working with some experienced corporations in London. 

Visit 1: DP9

What an amazing day with DP9 who delivered an inspirational talk to our young participants. They gave valuable insight on how Development and Planning takes place for some of the most iconic buildings in London. 

After the talk we traveled together by London Underground to visit number 22 Bishopsgate.

The young people were given the opportunity to visit a viewing gallery that is not yet open to the public. The development host one of the most iconic views of London.

The young people were given the opportunity to be among the first members of the public to visit the viewing gallery that overlooks much of Londons landscape.

For many of these young people an opportunity to visit something as iconic has never been part of their vision.

It was fantastic to see their reactions as they became part of the new developments history.

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Point of View – Turner & Townsend

by Point of View

The second day of the project was a visit to Turner and Townsend.

The group spent time in the offices meeting the staff and listening to a presentation about the services and developments that Turner and Townsend offer. The young people also looked at last projects and had the privilege to look at projects that the company have planned for the future.

The group also had the opportunity to meet and talk to younger members of staff that have joined the organisation and have established good career routes etc. The focus was to enlighten the group about possible apprenticeships or positions within the company that may occur in the future.

The staff of Turner and Townsend organised an opportunity for the boys to visit two of the live sites that are in development. The young people were allowed access to some of the most prestigious properties in the borough.

Some of the properties were valued at up to ten million pounds. The group naturally placed their orders.

The group were the taken to the main offices of Turner & Townsend for lunch followed by an invite to visit the viewing deck by St. Paul’s Cathedral.

As well as a great opportunity for the group to take selfies in such a great spot, they also took on board new values about how they too can move forward positively and live a much more sustainable life in the future.

All of the group mentioned that fact that without projects like these, they may never get the much needed insight in how they can use education to live a life that contributes positively to the greater development of communities and other surrounding areas.

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Point of View – Dominvs Group

by Point of View

The project will start with the young creatives travelling across London, gaining a glimpse of what it’s like to live and work in London. From visiting iconic buildings to visiting consultants that work across Dominvs’s developments, the young people will start to understand what real estate is from the bottom to the top level boardroom through working with some experienced corporations in London. 

Full project overview

Day 3. Dominvs group kindly extended their offices to our young people to host a podcast session with some of the most senior members of staff.

The young people were given the opportunity to produce a broadcast quality podcast full of questions and advice on how they can choose a career in their futures.

Some of the questions the young people asked were thought provoking and challenging at the same time.

The Principal Jay, delivered a ten minute talk highlighting the challenges that he and his family faced when they came to the UK and started a small business.

This story provided a real life perspective of how to overcome the challenges to success.

Wes also delivered his perspective on how the young people can pursue a career in property development.

Overall a very inspirational day for the young people and the staff, which was followed by a trip to Nandos.

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Point of View – US Embassy

by Point of View

Day 4: Our final visit before Cornwall was spent with the US Embassy

We were given the opportunity to visit the embassy with the young people.

This is a huge chance for them all to experience the diverse and interesting operational functions of an establishment like this.

The young people were given a special tour of the Embassy with the team.

They also enjoyed eating lunch with some of the staff.

The boys were able to ask key questions about the running of the Embassy and the importance in todays society. They also learned a lot about the relationship between the US and the UK.

The boys also had the chance to meet young US marines that have chosen a career in the forces.

The day ended with a tour of the marines quarters, and a group selfie in front of the US embassy’s iconic signage.

All of the boys thoroughly enjoyed the experience and feel inspired to move towards a positive career that may even involve politics.

Well done guys and thank you for hosting us on a truly enjoyable day at the Embassy.

 

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Elemental UK – Project Point of View / THE BIG SKY

by Point of View

The second part of the project will revolve around mentoring and for that the young creatives will be visiting Elemental UK, who are based in Cornwall. The mentoring will involve a five day residential stay where the young creatives will plan a sound map of the life in London compared to rural life by the sea. The five days in Cornwall will be split between Newquay and Falmouth.

The five days in Cornwall will be split between Newquay and Falmouth.

What an adventure!

Over the five days we worked with these young people we saw them flourish in confidence and developed skills that enabled them to work better as a team. 
The majority of the activities were water based and the young people, many of them had never embarked in water sports before embraced the challenges and all of the task set. Many of them overcame the fears they had of water.

The biggest success was witnessing two of the non-swimmers, pushing themselves to learn how to swim in such a short space of time.

The activities included surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding and coasteering, all of which require learning and adapting new skill sets in a short period of time.

Project overall

 

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Children more unhappy with lives, schooling and appearance – research

by Health & WellbeingNews & Updates

The cost-of-living crisis is impacting families, a report said, while children are struggling following the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic.

Source:

https://www-independent-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/children-society-school-government-b2172599.html?amp

Children are becoming more unhappy with their lives, schooling and appearance, according to research detailing the “desperately worrying” decline of children’s wellbeing in the UK.

Around one in eight children (12%) aged 10-15 were unhappy with school in 2019-20, data analysed by The Children’s Society suggests.

And six per cent were unhappy with their lives overall, according to the results set out in its Good Childhood report 2022.

Events since then, such as the cost-of-living crisis, are having a significant impact on families, the authors said, while children are also struggling following the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic.

The charity surveyed more than 2,000 children aged 10-17, and their parent or carer, across the UK between May and June.

It also analysed data from the UK Understanding Society survey, which covers 40,000 UK households annually, with questions completed by adults and children aged 10-15.

More than a third of parents and carers surveyed by the charity said they had struggled with the costs of school trips and uniforms, while more than a quarter struggled with the cost of school shoes, computer equipment and PE kit.

Some 85% said they were concerned about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on their family over the next year.

And 11% of children and 13% of parents or carers said they did not cope well with changes caused by coronavirus.

Analysis of the Understanding Society study suggests, on average, happiness with life as a whole, friends, appearance and school were all significantly lower in 2019-20 – the latest available data – than in 2009-10.

Some 12% were unhappy with school in 2019-20, and six per cent about their lives overall.

It also found girls in particular were struggling with their body image, with 18% unhappy with their appearance in 2019-20.

This is significantly higher than the 10% of boys who felt this way, and a “worrying jump” from the 15% of girls who were unhappy with their appearance a decade ago.

Mark Russell, chief executive at The Children’s Society, called the state of decline in children’s wellbeing “desperately worrying”.

He said: “Right now, the negative effects of the cost-of-living crisis, the disruption of the pandemic to young people’s education, and the ongoing decline in children’s happiness are on a collision course.

“School is a vital setting to influence children’s wellbeing, but they need more support, as the reality of what’s facing children and the lack of a holistic response is a national scandal.

“We need a faster roll-out of mental health support teams in schools alongside early support hubs in every local community and there needs to be more support for children whose families are struggling to make ends meet with free school meals available to all children on Universal Credit.

“There is nowhere to hide from the ensuing wellbeing catastrophe unless urgent action is taken.”

The Children’s Society survey found children were happiest with their family, and least happy about school, with 14.2% feeling this way in 2022.

Children who said their family was not well off were less happy with school on average, while boys were happier with school than girls on average.

The environment was top of children’s concerns in 2022, with four in 10 children very or quite worried about it, followed by new illnesses/pandemics, crime, inequality and the refugee and migrant crisis.

A Government spokesperson said: “We are providing schools with £53.8 billion this year in core funding, which includes a cash increase of £4 billion, and continue to invest in children’s mental health and wellbeing support.

“Across Government we are also taking action to address cost pressures for families, including through the energy price guarantee, which will save a typical household an average of £1,000 a year on their energy bills. We will continue working closely with schools and the sector to address the pressures they face.”

Black History Month Blog Main Image

Black History Month 2022

by Press ArticlesSpecial Days

October is Black History Month in the UK. 

Youth Unity CIC will be celebrating the continued achievements and contributions of Black people to the UK and around the world.
It’s also a time for continued action to tackle racism, reclaim Black history, and ensure Black history is represented and celebrated all year round.

Time for Change: Action Not Words

The theme of this year’s Black History Month is ‘Time for Change: Action Not Words’, aiming to get people to come together to make a change.

It’s about coming together around a shared common goal to achieve a better world for everyone.
The campaign is asking for real support from allies to ensure real change. It’s time to reset your mindset and support with actions, not words. #seesomethingsaysomething, don’t be a passive bystander.

As part of the Black History Month, Youth Unity CIC will celebrate black history, heritage and culture, and the iconic figures that have contributed so much, we will also be promoting this valuable impact in our commissioned services across areas of the home counties, Kent, Essex and London Boroughs.


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Serious violence duty: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 factsheet

by with No Comment Reports

Updated 20 August 2022

1. What are we going to do?

The Serious Violence Duty will require local authorities, the police, fire and rescue authorities, specified criminal justice agencies and health authorities to work together to formulate an evidence based analysis of the problems associated with serious violence in a local area, and then produce and implement a strategy detailing how they will respond to those particular issues. Prisons, youth custody agencies and educational authorities may also need to work with these core partners.

2. How are we going to do it?

We want to reduce violent crime and address the root causes of serious violence across England and Wales by making sure that public bodies work together to stop serious violence.

As a result of this duty the police, local authorities, fire and rescue authorities, and specified health and criminal justice agencies will have to work together to identify and publish what actions they need to take collectively to reduce violent crime, including domestic abuse and sexual offences. Educational authorities, prisons and youth custody agencies may also be required to work with those bodies as a result of this duty. The legislation grants these authorities the power to share data and information with each other for the purpose of preventing and reducing serious violence. We will encourage authorities to place an emphasis on early intervention with young people in order to prevent them from becoming either a victim or perpetrator of serious violence in the first place.

Local areas can be flexible in deciding the geographical extent of their partnership and local areas will be encouraged to use existing multi-agency partnerships where possible. Some partnerships already work well in tackling serious violence and the Home Office wants to build on this good practice so that it is more consistent across England and Wales.

By ensuring that all of these authorities work together in this way, strategies can be put in place to effectively prevent and reduce serious violence and make communities safer.

3. Background

The increase in serious violence since 2014 proves that more needs to be done to prevent and reduce serious violence. While some partnerships work well, in others there are performance or capability issues. There are many reasons for this including competing priorities, strength of relationships between public agencies, and not enough data and intelligence sharing.

This is not just a policing issue. To be successful in dealing with this threat, all relevant agencies need to focus on and be held accountable for preventing and reducing serious violence in their local area, targeting activity to the people and places most at risk. The new duty is key to achieving this.

3.1 Timeline

Work on the duty has been ongoing since Spring 2019, and consisted of:

  • 1 April – 28 May 2019 – the Government consultation on a Public Health Duty for tackling serious violence.
  • 15 July 2019 – the Government [response] to the consultation published.
  • 19 December 2019 – Government announcement in the Queen’s Speech that a new duty would be brought forward for public sector bodies to address serious violence.
  • October – December 2020 – Engagement with key stakeholders on the legislation.

The consultation showed that there was clear support for taking a multi-agency approach to prevent and reduce serious violence. We have taken into consideration the points raised by those who responded to the consultation when developing the policy for the Serious Violence Duty.

4. Frequently asked questions

4.1 Why do we need this new duty?

The duty ensures that serious violence is made a focus within existing multi-agency arrangements, such as multi-agency safeguarding arrangements or Community Safety Partnerships, and allow for collaboration between a much wider set of partners. This duty also introduces a requirement for local partnerships to establish their local problem profile and produce a local strategy specifically aimed at preventing and reducing serious violence.

4.2 Will individuals (e.g. nurses, teachers) be required to report on serious violence issues as a result of this duty?

The new duty is not aimed at individual teachers, nurses, social workers or other frontline professionals. Instead, it is intended to encourage authorities and partners to plan, share data, intelligence and knowledge, to generate an evidence based analysis of the problem and a response strategy with bespoke local solutions.

4.3 Will there be further funding to support this new duty?

The government is investing £130 million in 2022/23 to drive down the most devastating types of crime – including knife crime, gun crime and homicide.

This funding package includes:

  • supporting the implementation of the new Serious Violence Duty and Serious Violence Reduction Orders, being brought into law via the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
  • an additional £64 million for Violence Reduction Units, supporting the existing 18 and enabling two new units to be established in Cleveland and Humberside
  • an additional £30 million into the ‘Grip’ police enforcement programme

We are also providing £200m over 10 years for the Youth Endowment Fund, to test and evaluate what works to ensure those young people most at risk are given the opportunity to turn away from violence and lead positive lives.

4.4 How will this new duty work with Violence Reduction Units?

Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) bring together community leaders and other key partners with police, local government, health and education professionals to identify the drivers of serious violence and develop a response to them. VRUs will ensure there is effective planning and collaboration to support a longer term approach to preventing violence.

The new duty will complement and assist the VRUs in their aim of preventing and reducing serious violence, by providing a strategic platform with the right regulatory conditions to support successful delivery of this multi-agency approach, including through the extended set of partners on whom the duty will fall.