Our Approach"I wish I'd had this when I was young. I might not have suffered so much."
CAP takes a fresh approach to assault prevention, aiming to reduce fear by focusing on what children can do, rather than on what they can’t.
When we teach a child how to cross a road, we focus on how they should cross a road safely, not on the graphic details of a road accident. When we teach children how to swim, we do not focus on drowning. In the same way, the CAP project takes a fresh approach to actual or potential assault situations by focusing on a child’s rights and the postive action they can take in unsafe situations.
Our workshops are designed to build children’s confidence and self esteem, and are lively and fun. Children learn through drama and discussion with trained facilitators, about their rights to safety, strength and freedom. We encourage them to be proud of these rights and to respect the rights of others. Through the workshops they learn that they have the ability to protect themselves in unsafe situations. They learn they have a right to say no, and are encouraged to talk to somebody they trust. The issues we tackle are: children’s safety with peers, strangers and familiar adults.
The workshops are delivered in a curriculum appropriate way, according to the age and understanding of the children . Very young children use puppets with more repetition and music; the older children have a chance to explore the concepts in greater depth and problem solve the enacted situations.
CAP is unique because of our community approach. We believe the whole community can take responsibility for the protection of it’s children and young people, but this cannot be done without the involvement of the children themselves. This is not to say that children and young people are responsible for protecting themselves, that is adults responsibility. However, as abuse is surrounded by secrecy and threats, a way in has to be through the children.
Before we work with the children, we work with parents/carers and school staff, to help them understand our approach and inform them of ways that they can contribute to the prevention of abuse.
For more detailed information on the workshops see "Our Work".
|
|
|
 |
"As a headteacher for more than 10 years, this is the first time in my experience that children of such a wide age range have been able to access such a valuable resource"
Bill Grace, Headteacher, Norton Fitzwarren School, Taunton
|
|
