May 2024 – Racism

Racism is where someone treats another person differently because their skin colour is not the same as theirs, they speak a different language or have different religious beliefs, for example.

The UK is full of people who follow lots of different faiths and religions. Most of the time they all get along and people are free to live the way they want to.

However, some groups are targeted because of their beliefs, and because of events that people blame them for – even if this is incorrect.

It is a crime to be racist to someone in the United Kingdom. According to UK law, a person is committing a ‘hate crime’ if they direct hostile behaviour at someone based on that person’s race and they can face criminal charges.

In 2019, there were almost 80,000 hate crimes in the UK. That’s 10% more than the year before.

Some people believe that they are better than others – just because of the colour of their skin.

But racism can come from ignorance too – some people might not even know they are being racist in how they are acting.

That’s because they might have made assumptions based on another person’s colour or culture. This is sometimes called ‘racial discrimination’.

A lot of racism comes from history – for centuries, white Europeans were in charge of much of the world and thought they were better than people from other countries.

Racism can cause individuals to feel angry, upset or depressed. If you feel that someone is being racist towards you, please speak to our safeguarding team or you can find support on the following websites:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/racism-and-mental-health

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/racism-and-mental-health

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52965984

April 2024 – Internet and Digital Awareness

The term “digital awareness” describes the sense of experience, comfortability, and proficiency required for basic technology usage. To be aware of how digital platforms or devices work is an essential skill of the 21st century, because so much of the world now relies on it for momentum.

The internet was founded in 1969 with the first workable prototype being created in the US. However, it took until 1991 for it to be open to the general public and by 1994 internet pages were in general use across homes.

With the uptake of the internet, it meant that the risks of internet and digital technology became more apparent including hacking and cyber security.

In 1994, Vladimir Levin engineered the first big money heist by hacking into Citibank’s telephone and computer systems and stealing $10 million. In 2013 a hack compromised three billion Yahoo accounts including names, security questions, passwords and contact details.

Whilst using the internet is an everyday part of life it is vital to keep yourselves and others safe whilst accessing online material, this can include setting passwords that are secure such as using random letters, numbers and symbols rather than words that are meaningful to you such as pet names, children’s names and places of interest. It is also good practice to use different passwords for different websites or apps so if one is hacked it is not easy for a hacker to access all of your information.

The use of technology in your workplace also needs to be monitored and secure such as ensuring that passwords are used, and information is stored within the guidelines of GDPR requirements.

https://nationalcollege.com/guides/stronger-passwords

https://www.learnsafl.ac.uk/pages/home/e-safety-hub/e-safety/setting-changing-to-a-strong-password

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety

March 2024 – Andrew Tate

Emory Andrew Tate – was born in December 1986, and his website says he is from Chicago, Illinois. Tate was a kickboxing world champion four times – but it was online where he found worldwide fame. Tate has appeared in countless videos, flaunting an ultra-luxurious lifestyle of fast cars, private jets, and yachts which has led to a huge online following, especially young men. In an interview with another YouTuber, he said he was “absolutely a misogynist”, and added: “I’m a realist and when you’re a realist, you’re sexist. There’s no way you can be rooted in reality and not be sexist.” In that same video, he described women as “intrinsically lazy” and said there was “no such thing as an independent female”.

‘A misogynist is a person who dislikes, despises or is strongly prejudiced against women’, Andrew Tate gained a large following of people who declared themselves to be misogynists and follow his ideologies.
Tate was arrested in 2022 along with his brother after stating that is job was ‘to meet a girl, go on a few dates, sleep with her, test if she’s quality, get her to fall in love with me to where she’d do anything I say and then get her on webcam so we could become rich together,” He was arrested due to an investigation into allegations of human trafficking and rape.

He also declared in a BBC interview that he was a ‘force for good’ and that he was ‘acting under the instruction of God to do good things’

What does this mean to you?
Tate shows extremist views and it is important that these are prevented, due to his lavish lifestyle his following grew and it is important to educate others as to what his ideologies mean in practice and that they are harmful. If you speak to someone who agrees with Tate’s ideologies it is the time to put measures into place such as referral to Prevent to stop them from harming others.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64125045
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/03/andrew-tate-symptom-not-problem-why-young-men-turning-against-feminism

February 2024 – World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day held every 4 February is the global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). By raising worldwide awareness, improving education and catalysing personal, collective and government action, we are all working together to reimagine a world where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equitable for all – no matter who you are or where you live. Created in 2000, World Cancer Day has grown into a positive movement for everyone, everywhere to unite under one voice to face one of our greatest challenges in history. While we live in a time of awe-inspiring advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, many of us who seek cancer care hit barriers at every turn. Income, education, geographical location and discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle are just a few of the factors that can negatively affect care. This year’s World Cancer Day’s theme, “Close the Care Gap”, is all about making sure our leaders know that we demand a commitment to prioritising cancer, to creating innovative strategies designed to confront inequity and to investing our resources to achieve a just and cancer-free world. With so many different types of cancers, the symptoms are varied and depend on where the disease is located. However, there are some key signs and symptoms to look out for, including:

• Unusual lumps or swelling – cancerous lumps are often painless and may increase in size as the cancer progresses.
• Coughing, breathlessness, or difficulty swallowing – be aware of persistent coughing episodes, breathlessness or difficulty swallowing.
• Changes in bowel habit – such as constipation and diarrhoea and/or blood found in the stools.
• Unexpected bleeding – includes bleeding from the vagina, anal passage, or blood found in stools, in urine or when coughing.
• Unexplained weight loss – a large amount of unexplained and unintentional weight loss over a short period of time (a couple of months)
• Fatigue – which shows itself as extreme tiredness and a severe lack of energy. If fatigue is due to cancer, individuals normally also have other symptoms.
• Pain or ache – includes unexplained or ongoing pain, or pain that comes and goes.
• New mole or changes to a mole – look for changes in size, shape, or colour and if it becomes crusty or bleeds or oozes.
• Complications with urinating – includes needing to urinate urgently, more frequently, or being unable to go when you need to or experiencing pain while urinating.
• Unusual breast changes – look for changes in size, shape or feel, skin changes and pain.
• Heartburn or indigestion – persistent or painful heartburn or indigestion
• Heavy night sweats – be aware of very heavy, drenching night sweats. If you have any concerns regarding your health, please speak to your GP or consult the NHS website.

January 2024 – Dry January!

In 2021, there were 20,970 deaths that were related to alcohol in England, from 2021 to 2022, there were 342,795 hospital admissions that were wholly due to alcohol. During this time period, there were 948,312 hospital admissions that were alcohol-related under the broad definition. 

Each alcoholic drink has labelled on the packaging how many units are within the drink and this idea was introduced in 1987 to help people to keep track of their drinking, one unit equals 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol, which is around the amount of alcohol the average adult can process in an hour.

To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, 14 units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.

You can find the ABV (alcohol by volume) on bottles and cans of alcohol and you can work out how many units there are in one drink by multiplying the total volume of the drink (in ml) by its ABV and dividing the result by 1000.

Dry January is in support of not consuming alcohol for 31 days, they have found that 86% of participants save money, 70% of participants have a better sleep and 66% have more energy. By not drinking alcohol there are a number of health benefits including; improved liver, heart and brain function, reduced risk of cancer, dementia and cardiovascular disease.

Although drinking less (or none) alcohol is better for your health if you are alcohol dependent you can die if you suddenly, completely stop drinking so it is best to contact your GP for support. https://alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help-now

Further information

https://alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/managing-your-drinking/dry-january

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support

December 2023 -Myths of Vaping

In recent news, the story of 12-year-old Sarah Griffin https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67081855 has brought to light the severe consequences of vaping.

Sarah, who had asthma and was a heavy vaper, suffered a lung collapse and spent four days in an induced coma. Her experience has ignited concerns about the side effects of vaping, particularly among children and adolescents.

The NHS advises that vaping should only be used by adults (over the age of 18) to help them quit smoking but Sarah’s story underscores the importance of understanding the side effects and risks associated with vaping among children and young people. In her case, vaping not only had severe health implications but also led to addiction at a very young age.

The Side Effects of Vaping

1. Lung Complications: Vaping has been linked to various lung issues, including lung inflammation, bronchitis, and in severe cases, lung collapse, as seen in Sarah’s situation. The inhalation of vaporised chemicals and additives can irritate and damage the respiratory system.
2. Nicotine Addiction: Most vaping products contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. This addiction can develop rapidly, making it difficult to quit. For young people like Sarah, nicotine addiction can be particularly harmful, interfering with their development and well-being.
3. Mental Health Implications: Vaping can also have psychological side effects. Nicotine is known to impact mood and may contribute to anxiety and depression, particularly in young users.

How Many Young People Are Vaping?

Sarah’s case is not an isolated incident. Youth vaping has become a concerning trend. Recent figures indicate that one in five children aged 11-17 in the UK has tried vaping, a threefold increase from 2020.

It’s essential to understand that young people often underestimate the health risks associated with vaping. They are drawn to attractive flavours, colourful packaging, and the misconception that vaping is harmless. The reality, as Sarah’s story shows, is starkly different.

Government’s Response to Children Vaping

Recognising the urgency of this issue, the UK government has announced plans to restrict the marketing and sale of vapes targeted at children. These proposals include limiting flavours and descriptions, regulating packaging to make vapes less appealing to children, and exploring the possibility of increasing vape prices to deter young users.

The sale of disposable vapes, which are harmful to both health and the environment, is also under consideration for restriction.

Health experts, such as Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, acknowledge the potential utility of vaping as a smoking cessation tool for adults. However, marketing vapes to children is deemed “utterly unacceptable.” The government’s measures aim to strike a balance between harm reduction for adult smokers and the protection of young people from the dangers of vaping.

Just because the side effects of vaping aren’t as significant as smoking, they can still be potentially life-altering. It’s vital for young people, educators, and society as a whole to be vigilant and informed about the risks that young people face when they are enticed by vaping.

“Quitting can be tough, but you are tougher.”

• If you need help with quitting vaping we highly recommend this website 👉 https://teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping .

Here are the tips summarised:

Commit to Quitting:

• Choose a quit date in the near future and prepare
• Avoid stressful days for quitting like the day before an exam
• Mark your quit date on your calendar!

Create a Quit Plan:

• Identify triggers and cravings – certain people, places, feelings, or situations can cause you to want to vape
• Plan how to resist temptations, such as taking a temporary break from friends or what you’ll say if someone asks you to vape

Build a Support System:

• Seek help from friends, family, or professionals and be specific in asking for a type of support e.g. tough love
• Offer support to others wanting to quit vaping

Dealing with Unsupportive People:

• Distance yourself if needed
• Reaffirm your commitment to quitting
• Ask for respect for your decision
• Spend time with supportive people

If you are struggling with vaping and can see yourself quitting – don’t be afraid to get in touch with your learning consultant who can help point you in the right direction to find support!