Protecting young people and adults who are at risk of abuse or neglect is referred to as safeguarding. To make our institution a secure environment for your child to learn, Qualsskills Ltd is dedicated to ensuring that every member of staff has undergone safeguarding training.
Our centre have a designated safeguarding officer who may be contacted with any concerns; there are posters posted in our centre(s) so that students can find and get in touch with a safeguarding officer, if necessary.
WHAT IS EXTREMISM AND RADICALISATION?
Extremism is when a person has opinions that are intolerant of those who have a different race, culture, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. These opinions can be used to defend acts of racial, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or political violence.
When a person’s thoughts and behaviour diverge noticeably from how the majority of people in their culture and community see social issues and engage in politics, this is known as radicalization.
People who get radicalised might come from a wide variety of ethnic, national, political, and religious organisations. As a person becomes more radicalised, they could start to make substantial changes to society and the political system. Violent extremism, on the other hand, is when someone thinks that employing fear, terror, or violence is acceptable in order to bring about an intellectual, political, or societal change.
WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME RADICALISED?
Violent far-right or Islamist extremists typically recruit supporters for their cause by presenting a convincing narrative that attempts to explain why a person might harbour particular grievances. This justifies any violent or illegal actions that are seen as an attempt to avenge any perceived wrongs.
Young people may be drawn to extreme views due to the following reasons:
– They may be seeking answers to questions about identity, faith, and belonging
– They may be attempting to make sense of current events
– They may have personally experienced racism or discrimination and feel compelled to make changes
– They may be feeling pressure from their peers who have connections to these issues.
HOW DO YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME RADICALISED?
Teenagers may encounter classmates and adults who hold extreme beliefs online or in the real world. This individual may be a relative or a total stranger they encounter online.
Online contacts may be made via social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or other websites. Children may need to use the internet extensively for academic purposes, but occasionally teens can be encouraged to utilise other, lesser-known websites like KiK, Whisper, or Yik Yak. Due of the difficulty in monitoring them and the ability to remain anonymous, extremists frequently utilise these websites.
These can be helpful tools, but we also need to be mindful of the potent networks and programmes that utilise social media to engage young people and spread extremist beliefs.
Extremists typically use emotional triggers to interact with young people and may target them while they are going through challenges like bereavement, emotional trauma, mental health concerns, or social isolation.
RECOGNISING THE SIGNS OF RADICALISATION
Despite fitting the description of typical adolescent behaviour, the following behaviours, when combined with additional indicators, may indicate a child is being radicalised:
– Uncharacteristic changes in dress, behaviour, and peer relationships
– Increasing online time
– Quick to judge others who hold different opinions without showing an interest in them
– Secretive behaviour
– Losing interest in friends and activities
– Becoming isolated or withdrawn – Showing sympathy for extremist causes
– Justifying or even glorifying violence
– Possessing illegal or extremist literature
HOW CAN PARENTS SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO STAY SAFE?
Talk to your child frequently to learn about their hobbies and to find out if they have any fears. Discuss with your child what they read or see online, in the media, or on television. Discuss your thoughts with them and let them know that what they read or see could not be the complete story.
Your child should be encouraged to exhibit respect for individuals of various religions and ethnicities, as well as an interest in the neighbourhood.
Teach children that while it is OK to voice strong opinions and work to improve the world, neither they nor those they support should engage in violence against others.
Offer them nonviolent channels of expression like petitions, campaigns, and political participation in our democracy.
You may also:
– Assist your kid in understanding the risks associated with engaging in activities they may not fully grasp;
– Monitor your child’s internet activity; and
– Update your own knowledge.
– Recognize the social media and messaging platforms that your child utilises.
– Remind your youngster that anyone they communicate with online might be posing as someone else or lying to them.
– Explain that anybody who asks them to maintain secrets, not tell their parents or instructors about their discussions, or otherwise directs them to do so is likely to do them damage or endanger their safety.
– If you are concerned that your kid could leave the country, think about what steps you might take to stop this from happening, such as putting their passport in a secure location.
– Check your child’s spending patterns, access to savings accounts, and receipts for presents from loved ones and friends.
– If you have any worries, please speak with your child’s private tutor or the center’s safeguarding officers as soon as possible. They will be able to assist and connect you and your child with resources.
