Get involved in your community

Friendships and relationships

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has created three short films to help young people aged 11 to 25 years old with learning disabilities learn about relationships, emotions and staying safe. The films feature Ash, her friend Jim and her sister Steph. It's recommended that the films are watched with young people and their parents, carers or other adult professionals. This will help adults start conversations about feelings, privacy and boundaries, friendships, different kinds of love and online safety. 

The films can be watched separately or altogether, although it’s helpful to work through them in the order:

• You, me and us shows Ash, her friend Jim and her sister Steph talking about how different experiences and relationships make them feel.
• PANTS explains that private parts are private and talks about personal boundaries. Steph teaches Ash and Jim that it’s OK to say 'no' if you don’t want to do something, and they discuss different ways of saying no.
• Changes and choices build on the understanding that young people have developed through exploring the previous two films. This film is best suited for young people who are beginning to spend time on their own or working towards living independently. 

For many people, talking about sex and relationships can be difficult, and even embarrassing. Sexual Health D&G has easy read sexual and reproduction health services leaflets. 

For people with learning disabilities, Mencap provides help and support about sexuality and relationships. 

Supported Loving highlights the importance of good support for people with autism/learning disabilities to form and maintain close relationships. It also publishes Supported Loving toolkit, blogs, news and other resources. 

Brook Young People's Information Service is an information, support and signposting service for young people under 25 on sexual health. They also run a confidential enquiry service on the website.  

Change People has lots of easy read resources from safe sex and contraception to pregnancy and parenting.

Getting involved

There are a number of opportunities to influence local decision-making. Voices in Action (ViA) is Derby’s youth council for young people aged 11 to 19 years old representing their school, support group or youth project.

Supporting local charities is another way to get involved. From children's charities to animal welfare, young people can find the perfect charity. Charities are always happy to chat about volunteering or to just simply be involved.

Volunteering

People volunteer for so many different reasons and volunteers can do almost anything! From helping older people with their shopping, to providing social media support for a local charity, volunteers make a vital contribution to all aspects of community life.

Derby's Volunteer Centre is run by Community Action Derby and always has a wide range of voluntary opportunities available for people in Derby to get involved in. Whether it is working with animals, the environment, business management or sport, they are confident they can help you find the voluntary work that suits you.

They run a drop-in and appointment service at the Volunteer Centre from Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm. Come in and chat with one of their Volunteer Centre Advisers. You can also call them on 01332 342272 or email volunteer@communityactionderby.org.uk.

Alternatively, you can check out these volunteering organisations:

• Do IT - The UK's national volunteering website. 
• The National Youth Agency - A website aimed at organisations who are involved in young people's personal and social development.
• vinspired - The perfect site for any volunteers aged 16 to 25 in England. 

Staying safe

There are many resources out there to help young people to stay safe.

Thinkuknow helps keep children and young people safe by providing education about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. There is advice for parents and carers and a page specifically for young people aged 14 and over.

Childnet International works with others to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. Their parent and carer hub will find information and resources to help you support your child to have a happy and safe online experience. They also have a Childnet Hub for young people aged 11 to 18.

The UK Safer Internet Centre has an Awareness Centre providing guides and resources on smart speakers, using video conferencing and setting parental controls.

Our Cyber crime - lock up online page contains information about staying safe when using the internet on the computer, tablet or phone. 

Bullying 

If you think a child is being bullied, view our Bullying and harassment policy page.

If you have been the victim of cyber bullying on social media, this can be reported on social media sites using their reporting system or to teachers and in some cases, the police. 

If you have experienced inappropriate sexual contact, you should report this to the police. 

Don't keep bullying to yourself, there is support available so speak out and get help.