BRECON and Radnorshire AM Kirsty Williams joined children at Llanfaes CP School to learn first-hand from NSPCC Cymru how children can speak out and stay safe from abuse.

Ms Williams, who is also the Welsh Government’s cabinet secretary for education, attended a ‘Speak Out, Stay Safe’ assembly and workshop at Llanfaes CP School on Friday (February 8).

The assembly and hour-long workshop for children in years five and six aims to ensure children in primary schools learn about all forms of abuse and recognise how to spot it, how to protect themselves and where to go for help.

Since ‘Speak Out, Stay Safe’ was launched in 2011, children at more than 1,500 schools in Wales have been delivered the message about how to speak out about abuse from specially-trained NSPCC staff and volunteers along with Buddy, the service’s mascot.

The service is entirely funded through fundraising activities for the NSPCC, and is offered to schools at no cost.

Following her visit, Ms Williams said: “The safety of our young people is absolutely paramount. We have a responsibility to ensure our children can recognise when something isn’t right, feel able to speak up, and know who to talk to. This is why plans for Wales’ new curriculum include a strong focus on health and wellbeing, where pupils will learn about influences that can affect them.

“Schools can access resources such as posters which can be displayed to help children stay safe, and I have also published an action plan for online safety to focus on this increasingly important area. The aims of the NSPCC ‘Speak Out, Stay Safe’ programme are aims that I fully share. It can be a valuable source of support for our schools and for children, and I really welcomed the opportunity to see it in action.”

Des Mannion, the head of NSPCC Cymru/Wales, said: “The NSPCC provides age-appropriate information to children in schools about what abuse is and how to speak out about it.

“We know that abuse can be prevented and that children can get help if they speak out. Tens of thousands of children across Wales have already heard this vital message.

“We always need volunteers to help us spread the message, particularly those who are Welsh-speaking, so we can reach every single school in the country.”

For details on the ‘Speak Out, Stay Safe’ service, including how to become a volunteer, visit learning.nspcc.org.uk/services/speak-out-stay-safe.

Adults concerned about the wellbeing of a child can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or go to nspcc.org.uk.

Children can contact Childline with any concerns on 0808 1111, use the app or online at childline.org.uk/.