Campaign launched in Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles to help keep children safe from abuse

A campaign to help protect young children from sexual abuse is being launched today in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles by NSPCC Scotland and the islands’ protection committees.

The partnership has been set up to deliver the NSPCC Talk PANTS campaign, which gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children about sexual abuse. With the help of a colourful animated character, called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them and to recognise when something is not okay and how to tell someone.

Each public protection committee will have local PANTS champions, who will be trained to deliver the campaign messages and resources to other professionals and families through webinars and workshops. A PANTS guide for parents has been translated into Gaelic for distribution in the Western Isles.

Events will also be held on each of the islands to promote the campaign materials, which as well as guides for parents, include a British Sign Language PANTS video and a Pantosaurus film. There are also resources for teachers to use in primary schools.

Mubashar Khaliq, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: “Each year in Scotland, Police record more than 5,000 sexual offences committed against children. It is crucial that we do all we can to help prevent abuse from happening in the first place.

“The Talk PANTS campaign is about helping start difficult, but vital, conversations with children from a young age about sexual abuse and their right to be safe.

“We don’t talk about sex or use scary words but focus on keeping safe and rules that help children understand important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they're upset or worried.”

Tam Baillie, Chair of Public Protection Committees in Orkney and Shetland and the Western Isles, said: "It is great that we are able to conduct this campaign on a pan-island basis. It demonstrates there are common issues for keeping children safe in island settings, whilst valuing the differences in each of the local campaigns.

“I love the age-appropriate approach, using rhyme, dance and song to bring home serious preventative messages. I expect the campaign to heighten awareness of sexual abuse and increase the safety of our youngest children - and to have fun whist doing it."

Peter Diamond, Orkney Islands Council Head of Education on behalf of Orkney Public Protection Committee, said: “A small number of our schools in Orkney have been using the PANTS materials for some time now, but this localised campaign will embed the messaging further across all our schools.

“No-one wants to think of abuse of any kind happening to children within our communities, but the sad reality is that it does. Most parents now recognise that they need to speak to their young children about the dangers they may face from sexual abuse, both in the online and real world, as they grow up.

“However, the reality of having these conversations can be challenging and we understand that some parents may find the idea of talking to their child about these topics a bit daunting, but that is why the campaign is in simple language suitable for young children.

“We will be encouraging and supporting all parents to take their children on the Pantosaurus journey to safety.”

The campaign is being launched at a virtual event today (October 28), where people who work with children and families on the islands will hear from each of the committees, as well as a woman who was sexually abused as a child and Stuart Allardyce, Director of Stop It Now! Scotland (Lucy Faithfull Foundation).

Parents and professionals can find out how to Talk PANTS here. The adult guides include ones for foster carers and parents with learning disabilities.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.