From Monday 12th February the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) started the Highlight Youth Hubs with Young Somerset in both Bridgwater and Taunton, to provide support, advice and sign posting for young people. The Taunton Hub: 3-5pm on Saturdays in McDonalds, East Street The Bridgwater Hub: 4-6pm on Fridays in Coffee#1, Fore Street The hubs are

Using Motivational Interviewing to Support Families Series: PART 3 of 5 Motivational Interviewing trainer Jackie Webb, joins us for episode 3 in the series Using Motivational Interviewing to Support Families, where we explore change talk vs sustain talk. In this episode we begin to delve into some of the techniques that you can use in

Schools and Colleges can enable their young people to participate in the biggest democratic ballot and help platform youth voice. This years Make Your Mark ballot for young people aged 11-18 years goes live from Monday 29th January to Friday 8th March 12pm. It’s easy to feel excluded from UK elections especially when impactful issues

The Department for Education (DfE) published a new edition of its statutory guidance Working together to safeguard children in December 2023. The 2023 edition replaces Working together to safeguard children 2018, which underwent a limited factual update in 2020. The guidance outlines what organisations and agencies must and should do to help, protect and promote

Free services to help Somerset parents reduce unhealthy relationship conflict The challenge Louie, aged 8: “My mum and dad spend so much time hating each other they don’t have a lot of time to love me”. Shakira, aged 14: “It’s when she picks up her phone and sighs and rolls her eyes, I know it’s

Reflections from Superintendent Dickon Turner on a career in safeguarding. Please note: this article references child abuse. Sadly, I am saying goodbye to the Somerset Safeguarding Children’s Partnership in late October as I approach my 30 years in policing milestone. I first encountered the formal idea of safeguarding children in 2002, when I asked if

Building on the success of our June Forum week – Exploring Neglect, we are thrilled to announce our upcoming December Forum week and welcome you to join us online for our lunchtime interactive webinar’s where we will ‘Get to know Somerset.’ Throughout the week, we will be hearing from a range of practitioners across agencies:

Somerset Youth Parliament offers children and young people from across Somerset the opportunity to have their voice heard, influence positive change and help improve things for young people in Somerset. Nominations open in September and voting opens after nominations close on Monday 13 November. > For more information on the upcoming Youth Parliament elections scan