Be aware of the safeguarding risks over the holidays
Safeguarding issues can crop up over school holidays – especially over a longer break such as summer.
The cost-of-living crisis could also increase these safeguarding risks. With fewer families able to afford activities or childcare, children may spend more time at home alone or without any supervision over the holidays.
This means some of these children might spend more time:
- Online, and be exposed to more risks online, such as harmful content, online bullying, grooming (including child sexual exploitation or child criminal exploitation) and radicalisation
- Out and about, making them more available and vulnerable for groomers, gang members or extremists to find and target
A stressful home environment as families struggle with debt Lack of basic care, like heat, shelter or food Eviction, moving around