President, Nicola Harding and member Judith Webb, welcomed members and guests to their March meeting, to hear speaker Professor Tink Palmer MBE, Chief Executive and Founder Member of the Marie Collins Foundation.
Among members and guests present was Chris Clark, President of Soroptimist International of Yorkshire.
Professor Tink explained that The Marie Collins Foundation (MCF), a registered charity since 2011, has been created to offer a cohesive approach to addressing the recovery needs of children, and their families, who suffer harm online. Their vision is to ensure that all children who suffer abuse via the internet and mobile technology are able to recover and live safe and fulfilling lives.
She emphasised that both within the UK and the international environment, the service response is ad hoc, ill informed and sparse. The MCF is the only known organisation within the UK, Europe and further afield that solely dedicates its services to this vulnerable group of young people. The demand for the services of the MCF has grown extensively over the past five years, which illustrates the gap in services and knowledge that currently exists in matters pertaining to children abused via the internet a mobile technology.
The MCF works in partnership with police, health, children’s services, NGOs, education personnel, industry members, government departments and those working in the legal profession and judiciary. They offer direct services, support and intervention programmes to children and their families affected by abuse online; provide training and support for professionals; work alongside those assisting children in their recovery and influence national policies and strategies regarding appropriate responses to children harmed online.
Highlighting examples of the work of the MCF, Professor Tink provided an insight as to the scale and extent that the internet has become a significant tool in exposing children to the possible risks and dangers of online abuse. A key message from Professor Tink Palmer was that children are unlikely to disclose what is happening on line as they are open to blackmail and threats as well as guilt – therefore vigilance is required by parents and other family members about their online activities.
To find out more about the MCF visit www.mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk.
To find out more about what to look to prevent or recognise abuse for visit the NSPCC website
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