See, Hear, Respond ( Published: 04/11/2020)
Barnardo’s have launched a See, Hear, Respond (SHR) charity partnership to support children and families and help reduce levels of harm through online and digital support. The ‘See, Hear, Respond’ partnership is a new service funded by the Department for Education.
In response to COVID-19, they have created an interactive central space for parents, carers and young people to access a range of materials, resources and much more to help deal with some of the challenges the pandemic has presented. The SHR partnership has been created specifically to help children and young people in England who are experiencing harm and increased adversity during coronavirus, by providing support to those who are not being seen by schools or other key agencies. There is no minimum threshold for referral. They will support children from pre-birth up to 18 years of age and those with special educational needs under the age of 25.
Types of Support and How to Access Them
Help is available in several ways (all accessible via the online hub):
- An online hub of support and information
- Online counselling and therapy
- Face-to-face support for those most affected and at risk of some of today’s most pertinent issues, such as criminal exploitation, and helping children and young people reintegrate back into school
The coronavirus pandemic has meant that vulnerable children and young people are ‘hidden’ from vital support services. Many have been suffering in silence, struggling with mental health problems or abuse at home, by gangs or online.
That’s why Barnardo’s is leading a consortium of charities from across England, with support from the Department for Education, to identify and support children at risk of harm.
But for this to work, we need teachers and other education professionals – and anyone in contact with vulnerable children – to be our eyes and ears and refer children in need of help.
Children have too often been unseen and unheard during this crisis and they risk becoming the forgotten victims. This initiative is a vital lifeline for the hundreds of thousands of children and young people as we navigate the pandemic and its aftermath, helping to improve their long-term outcomes so they can have successful futures.
Javed Khan Barnardo’s Chief Executive
