PANTS campaign launched at Dorset County Museum

Pantosaurus, the charity’s popular children’s character, who is helping children keep safe from sexual abuse, met Dippy at Dorset County Museum for the launch of the NSPCC’s PANTS campaign across the county.

The year-long campaign will promote the range of resources and support available to help people teach children how to stay safe from abuse. It is being run in partnership with the two Safeguarding Children Boards from Dorset, and Bournemouth and Poole.

PANTS is the name of the NSPCC’s successful ‘Underwear Rule’:

P – Privates are private.
A – Always remember your body belongs to you.
N – No means no.
T – Talk about secrets that upset you.
S – Speak up, someone can help.

The campaign is targeting local childcare professionals, teachers, parents and carers. It will include a series of workshops throughout the year, and the promotion of free downloadable lesson plans so that teachers and early years practitioners can help keep children safe.

Cllr Steve Butler, Dorset County Council cabinet member for safeguarding said, “We are proud to be supporting the PANTS campaign which carries an incredibly important message for children in a simple age-appropriate way.

“Sadly, children who have suffered sexual abuse can be affected by it for the rest of their lives because of loss of self-confidence and an inability to form meaningful relationships. We all have a role to play in raising awareness of what constitutes a healthy and safe relationship.”