At Sandhill View Academy we are always concerned about the health and well-being of our pupils. We know school life can be difficult and we are always standing by to help with any troubles that are stopping you from enjoying your time at Sandhill View. If you have any worries and need to talk at anytime (even during the holidays) then we’re here to help you. Speak directly to your tutor during term time, or message us using the confidential student support form here.
Your school leads for student safeguarding are Mrs A. Johnston and Mrs A. O’Donell.
For specific issues and online guidance please look below to find the relevant advice.
The Safeguarding Team at Sandhill View Academy
General Advice
Streetwise
Provides information, advice and counselling for young people aged 11-25 years around issues such as housing, smoking cessation, contraception, sexual health, substance use, relationships and sexuality.
35-37 Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne
Tel: 0191 2305 400
Childline
This is a free 24 hour helpline for young people in distress or danger. Their website also has a lot of information, support and the chance to ask any questions you may have.
Tel: 0800 1111
The Samaritans
A free source of help for anyone who wants to talk to someone anonymously for support.
3 Grange Crescent, Stockton Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear SR2 7BN
Tel: 08457 90 90 90
Health Advice
Young Minds
This website has a lot of information about mental health issues including living with adults who have a mental health condition.
Your Health
An excellant website specifically designed for children and young people with health concerns in Sunderland.
NHS 111
111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It’s fast, easy and free. Call 111 and speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. They will ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care for you.
Tel: 111
Drink Aware
The Drinkaware Trust is an independent UK-wide alcohol education charity, funded largely by voluntary and unrestricted donations from UK alcohol producers, retailers and supermarkets. The Trust is governed independently and works in partnership with others to help reduce alcohol-related harm by helping people make better choices about their drinking.
Sunderland Smoking Service
Looking to quit smoking? Look no further than Sunderland’s stop smoking service! We’re here to help you start your quit story today.
www,sunderlandstopsmokingservice.co.uk
Alcohol Awareness
A useful document that highlights the dangers of under-age drinking and alcohol abuse in young people. Click here to view.
Advice Regarding Porn
Watching porn alone, in a private place can be a very healthy part of someone’s sex life and self-discovery and is nothing to be ashamed of, however, we must be careful to make sure that we recognise and understand what is safe and healthy when it comes to pornographic materials.
This helpful hand out by brook.org can help educate young people about porn, what is legal, what is safe and what you need to understand in its relation to real-life healthy relationships.
Bullying Advice
We encourage you to tell someone with any problems you might be having with bullies. School staff are always ready to hear your problems and help. You can also report any bullying you may experience or see to yourHead of Year on this page.
BullyingUK
Help and advice about bullying, remember if you feel you are being bullied than you should always tell someone. This website is an excellent first step to dealing with the problem.
Tel: 0808 800 2222
Cyber Bullying
Bullying isn’t something that just happens in the real world. More and more teenagers are being bullied online through social networking sites. If you are getting threatening messages online, there are a number of ways to get them stopped.
E Safety Advice
You can download a school leaflet with information all about how to stay safe online here.
Advice for staying safe online
The internet and social media sites can be very useful tools for communicating with others we may not see very often or research on topics for school or social purposes. However it is also a tool that can be misused in a number ways and it is important we protect ourselves from any dangers whilst using internet sites.
- NEVER post your address or phone numbers online.
- NEVER meet someone who you have only ever spoken to online.
- NEVER share details of your school.
- NEVER post pictures of you in your school uniform.
- Use only age-appropriate sites.
- If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, and tell a trusted adult immediately.
- Keep your usernames and passwords safe at all times.
- Think about what you post and how it could be misinterpreted.
- Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself. Once you’ve put a picture of yourself online people can see it and download it, it’s not just yours anymore.
- NEVER post or send provocative pictures of yourself or others.
- Respect other people’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude.
- ALWAYS make sure you have closed profiles and only add people you know.
- Remember whatever you post will stay on the web forever!
- Be aware that people online are not always who they say they are. If you are unsure tell someone!
Advice for staying safe on your mobile
You also need to be careful and considerate when using your mobile devices. Below are some tips for being safe on your phone. Remember mobile devices will be confiscated for the week if staff see them being used in school.
- NEVER reply to any nasty messages you receive – tell an adult about them instead.
- NEVER reply to a text from someone you don’t know.
- Keep the messages you have been sent so you can show them to a trusted adult and make a note of the time and date of the messages or calls you receive.
- NEVER answer calls from withheld numbers or numbers you don’t recognise, let it go to voicemail.
- NEVER give your mobile number to someone you don’t know.
- NEVER send pictures to someone you don’t know and be very careful about sending pictures to anyone on your phone.
Advice for if you are being bullied online
If you feel you are being bullied online it is important that you let a trusted adult know about it. Cyber bullying is still bullying and has the same affect as normal bullying. Here are some tips to help you should you feel like you are being cyber bullied.
- Tell an adult you trust if you are being cyber bullied.
- NEVER respond or retaliate to bullying messages – it could make things worse.
- ALWAYS Block users who send you nasty messages.
- Save abusive emails or messages (or texts) you receive and show an adult.
- NEVER pass on any cyber bullying videos or messages – this is also cyber bullying.
Thinkuknow
A dedicated site set-up by the national crime agency full of young people’s advice for staying safe online.
