Student Grabbed – What To Do To Keep Safe?

Student Grabbed – What To Do To Keep Safe?

On Monday a stranger allegedly grabbed a student by the shoulder and started to speak to her on Norwich St in Nelson. The girl was able to make her way to school where she notified school staff who contacted police. The teenager helped police with their investigation into the incident on Monday.

News like this make many wonder what to do when this would happen to them or their children. Safety expert Fiona Bryan, National Executive Director of the Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower Trust (short Kidpower), says “Children, teens and adults can learn and practise simple skills to keep themselves safe in many different environments. When out and about it’s being aware, confident, and having a safety plan in the case of something not feeling right or going wrong. This includes practising ways in how to take charge, use your voice and body if necessary, and to get help. Similar safety plans are needed in the home. We practice fire safety and water safety - we should also practice people safety.”

Kidpower is a non-profit organisation that teaches empowerment and people-to-people communication skills to children, teenagers and adults. Their workshops address potentially harmful issues and give people the tools they need to feel confident when faced with these behaviours. Their programmes are endorsed by the Police and Ministry of Justice.

Upcoming workshops include Kidpower holiday workshops for children aged 8-12yrs in Motueka 18th July, Richmond 20th July and Tahunanui 22nd July and Fullpower workshops for adults in Victory Community 27th July, Upper Moutere 2nd August and Brightwater 4th August.

Fiona highlights the community support “We are delighted that Rata Foundation, Network Tasman Trust, Sarau Trust, ACE in Communities and Community Organisation grants are supporting these workshops. It means that local people can benefit from learning life changing strategies to keep themselves safe with people they know and don’t know”.

From the conception of Kidpower in New Zealand 23 Years ago, more than 46,000 people have been empowered through learning these skills and strategies.

A parent of participant at a recent Kidpower for Young Children reported how her son remembered the skills and kept safe: “My son is four, we were in the Warehouse the other day and he wandered off. After looking for each other I heard over the speaker "********** is at customer service he said his mums name is Gemma". I went and got him and he said "Mummy, mummy, I did what I am meant to do, I stood tall like a giraffe, I used my voice, and I went for help"!! I was so proud of him”

ENDS

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