NSPCC launches campaign to help Muslim families discuss online safety, puberty and bullying

A series of Birmingham has been launched to help Muslim families discuss uncomfortable conversations about online safety, puberty and bullying.

A campaign has been launched to make issues including online safety, puberty and bullying easier for Muslim families to discuss. The NSPCC and community interest group Approachable Parenting, have developed the 'Comfortable Conversation' workshops, to help city families navigate tricky topics.

The pilot leaflet was made with the backing of Islamic scholars. It has been developed into a toolkit with the help of focus groups made up of Muslim parents and professionals, and launched at The Muath Trust on September 19.

Workshops are free for parents, last an hour and include activities, a screening of the animation and signposting to support networks.

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The Mayor of Solihull, Coun Shahin Ashraf, attended the launch event and said: “The Comfortable Conversations event was important for parents and professionals, and it was a pleasure to be invited by the NSPCC and Approachable Parenting so I could experience for myself such brilliant new resources for Muslim families.

“There are so many barriers confronting children and young people now in the world, we must make them feel like they belong, to feel comfortable and to be loved. Families, which come in many forms and sizes, are the bedrock of our society, and it is about finding the right time to have conversations with our children that works so they feel listened to and supported.”

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

1. End the two-child benefit cap
2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
4. Protect children’s and youth services
5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.

Kathleen Roche-Nagi, managing director of Approachable Parenting, said: “I would like to thank everyone for joining us for our workshop launch event and for making it extra special for us all. This includes a great thanks to the Mayor of Solihull for her support and interest in our work. I would also like thank Rachel and her team at the NSPCC and to the Muath Trust for hosting our event.

“Feedback from people has been amazing along with their help and support with spreading the word about our workshops and toolkit. Together, we can provide the future generation of children with all that they need so they can go onto enjoy successful lives.”

Rachel Wallace, NSPCC Local Campaigns Manager for the Midlands, said: “These materials and resources have been driven and supported by Muslim parents and professionals, exploring why some conversations can sometimes feel challenging and providing support to address this in a sensitive and informed way.

“It has been fantastic to work alongside Approachable Parenting to create these resources. The professional response to the launch today has been brilliant and we’re excited to see the positive impact we can have for Muslim families living in the West Midland but also across the UK.”

For more information about the Comfortable Conversations resource and workshops, email MidlandsCampaigns@nspcc.org.uk or visit www.nspcc.org.uk/ComfortableConversations