The film is part of a powerful campaign and e-learning package created by The Children’s Society which was commissioned by The Department of Health and supported by NHS England to help all health care professionals to spot the signs of child sexual abuse and know how to encourage young people to talk about it.

The film centres on the story of a young teen called Tyler who has been sexually abused by a member of his family for many years and is worried his younger brother may be next. We see Tyler coming into contact with a number of potential professionals who could help him but time and again they fail to spot the signs. It is the actions of a kind and patient radiographer who eventually gives Tyler the time and opportunity to tell his story.

Seen and Heard launched in July last year and has already trained thousands of health staff to detect child sexual abuse and continues to be rolled out to healthcare locations across the country. Although the hour-long learning programme focuses on staff working in the health service, it is relevant to anyone who works with children and is freely available to all.

The Children’s Society appointed White Boat TV to produce the film which was developed with the help of over 100 young people, some of whom were victims of sexual abuse. Last year the film also won Best Commissioned Film at the Haelo Film Festival Awards, which recognise the best in public sector films.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said: “We are delighted that our film won Gold in the Training category at the Evcom Screen Awards. One in 20 children in the UK has been sexually abused and many do not feel able to report their abuse or it goes unnoticed or misunderstood.

“We’re pleased that our film and training is helping healthcare professionals including receptionists, doctors, nurses and anyone who works with children to help them recognise the signs of abuse so children are seen and heard and they get the protection and support they deserve.”

Catherine Davies, Team Leader for tackling child sexual abuse at the Department of Health, said: ‘I would like to congratulate The Children’s Society for their award winning film, which is a really useable learning resource to raise awareness of child sexual abuse.’

Lisa Cooper, Regional Lead for Safeguarding for NHS England North, said: ‘We are delighted to have been a partner in the development and promotion of this work to all health staff. This film is helping all health staff to recognise and support children and young people at risk of or experiencing child sexual abuse, so as to provide support, advice and protection.’

The charity film entitled ‘See. Hear. Stop the Abuse’ won Best Commissioned Film at the Haelo Film Festival Awards, which recognise the best in public sector films. The film is part of a powerful campaign called Seen and Heard to help health professionals spot the signs of child abuse and know how to make children feel able to speak about what is happening to them.

One in 20 children in the UK has been sexually abused. Many do not feel able to report their abuse and too often it goes unnoticed or the signs are misunderstood. The Government has declared child sexual abuse one of the greatest threats facing the UK today.

The Department of Health commissioned The Children’s Society to make the video and e-learning course based on the powerful story of a young boy called Tyler, which launched in July this year.

The charity appointed White Boat TV to produce the film following Tyler who is ready to disclose the seven years of abuse he has suffered from a close family member. We see Tyler coming into contact with a number of potential people who could help him but time and again they fail to spot the signs. It is the actions of a kind and patient radiographer who eventually gives Tyler the time and opportunity to tell his story. The film and hour-long learning programme was developed with the help of over 100 young people, some of whom are victims of sexual abuse.

Famous faces from the soap world including Tina O’Brien, Alan Halsall and Oliver Farnworth have backed the Christmas song entitled ‘A Christmas Miracle’ that is released on Friday 2nd December on iTunes for 79p, as well as on other platforms, with all proceeds being donated to The Children’s Society.

Teachers and students at The Blackpool Sixth Form College have composed and produced the song. Ten schools from across the Fylde coast of Lancashire joined up with Blackpool Sixth Form students and a number of community music groups and local companies to record the single.

The song makes use of the Christmas story to deliver a hopeful message about how people can act together to ‘turn the world around’. The focus on child poverty has a particular relevance in Blackpool where the percentage of children living in poverty is 30.6% (against a national average of 21.4% and a North West average of 19.2%*).

Schools across the UK are also being sent the sheet music and have been asked to get involved on social media tweeting their versions of the song along with the #BeTheMiracle hashtag so raise awareness nationally.

The Children’s Society campaigns on many issues that affect disadvantaged children and the money raised will support the charity’s work to improve the lives of the most vulnerable 10-18 year olds across the county. The charity also runs services in Lancashire and across the country for and children on the streets affected by sexual exploitation, those missing from home and advocacy services and early family support.

The Children’s Society’s Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, said:

“We’re absolutely thrilled that The Blackpool Sixth Form College and so many schools and community groups in Lancashire have teamed up to launch this this uplifting song to raise awareness and support vulnerable children this festive season.

“Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for so many young people and we are truly grateful to everyone involved in putting this single together and also those who buy it. Funds raised from this single will help us continue our vital work with children and young people who have nowhere left to turn.”

Blackpool Sixth music teachers Ash Goodinson and John Stevens teamed up with English teacher, Steve Spencer, to create the song.

As temperatures plummeted as low as -10c in part of England and Wales this winter, the Children’s Society estimates that two thirds of the UK’s 3.9 million children living in poverty are missing out on help from the Warm Home Discount.

Although all low-income pensioners automatically get a £140 discount on winter fuel bills, poor families with children have to apply to energy suppliers, with no guarantee that they will receive the support they need.

Analysis from The Children’s Society found that families with children spend around £1550 per year on average on their fuel bills – around £300 per year more on average than households without children. Ensuring low income families with children receive the Warm Home Discount would be a start in addressing this gap.

The Children’s Society has found that many poor families simply don’t know they may be eligible for the Warm Home Discount, and that many of the most vulnerable families aren’t getting the help they need. The charity is calling for the government to automatically entitle low-income families with children to the extra support with heating costs.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said: “Living in a cold home puts children’s health at risk. Parents are doing the best they can on stretched incomes but all too often they simply can’t afford to put the heating on.

“The government should be doing all it can to ensure that children have warm, dry homes. As energy costs rise, this support is needed more than ever.”

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said:

Now the Prime Minister has announced her intention to seek to form a new minority administration we want to ensure the well-being of children is high on the agenda of new ministers and MPs of all political persuasions. Children’s needs must be prioritised not compromised in discussions aimed at supporting the new Government.

The crucial Brexit talks which will start soon should include a commitment to continue to retain or replace provision for children in disadvantaged communities which is currently funded through the European Social Fund.

EU children living in the UK also need assurance that decisions about where they can live will be based on their best interests, not just their parents’ employment history.

In order to maintain and improve safeguarding for children on and offline, the Government must ensure that the UK has continued membership of Europol and Eurojust, or that an agreement is in place for cooperation with these bodies and with the EU Commission.

Child poverty

At home, urgent action is needed to tackle the shocking rise in child poverty, which is on course to affect five million children by 2020. It will be vital that ministers follow through on the welcome Conservative manifesto commitment to introduce a ‘Breathing Space’ scheme for families in problem debt following our campaigning. This will give them the time they need to agree an affordable repayment plan without the worry of enforcement action or additional charges.

However, if the Government wants to really address child poverty it also needs a fundamental re-think of policies which affect parents’ ability to provide for their children – like the current four year benefits freeze, and the two-child limit for Tax Credits and Universal Credit.

We are also deeply concerned that many children in poverty will be affected by the plans to withdraw free school lunches for all infant children and we would urge the Government to commit to free lunches for all primary and secondary school children whose families receive Universal Credit.

Children in poverty are among those most likely to suffer from mental health disorders and that is why we want to see a commitment to fund counselling in all schools to ensure pupils get the vital early support needed to help address issues before they escalate.

Over the next few weeks there will be tough policy negotiations both here and in Brussels – but we owe it to our children to ensure their welfare is a top priority.

The film is part of a powerful campaign and e-learning package created by The Children’s Society which was commissioned by The Department of Health and supported by NHS England to help all health care professionals to spot the signs of child sexual abuse and know how to encourage young people to talk about it.

The film centres on the story of a young teen called Tyler who has been sexually abused by a member of his family for many years and is worried his younger brother may be next. We see Tyler coming into contact with a number of potential professionals who could help him but time and again they fail to spot the signs. It is the actions of a kind and patient radiographer who eventually gives Tyler the time and opportunity to tell his story.

Seen and Heard launched in July last year and has already trained thousands of health staff to detect child sexual abuse and continues to be rolled out to healthcare locations across the country. Although the hour-long learning programme focuses on staff working in the health service, it is relevant to anyone who works with children and is freely available to all.

The Children’s Society appointed White Boat TV to produce the film which was developed with the help of over 100 young people, some of whom were victims of sexual abuse. Last year the film also won Best Commissioned Film at the Haelo Film Festival Awards, which recognise the best in public sector films.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said: “We are delighted that our film won Gold in the Training category at the Evcom Screen Awards. One in 20 children in the UK has been sexually abused and many do not feel able to report their abuse or it goes unnoticed or misunderstood.

“We’re pleased that our film and training is helping healthcare professionals including receptionists, doctors, nurses and anyone who works with children to help them recognise the signs of abuse so children are seen and heard and they get the protection and support they deserve.”

Catherine Davies, Team Leader for tackling child sexual abuse at the Department of Health, said: ‘I would like to congratulate The Children’s Society for their award winning film, which is a really useable learning resource to raise awareness of child sexual abuse.’

Lisa Cooper, Regional Lead for Safeguarding for NHS England North, said: ‘We are delighted to have been a partner in the development and promotion of this work to all health staff. This film is helping all health staff to recognise and support children and young people at risk of or experiencing child sexual abuse, so as to provide support, advice and protection.’