Book aims to keep our children safe

I’d like to extend my huge appreciation to every individual who supported a rather special crowdfunding campaign for the children’s charity NSPCC - helping it to

launch its first children’s book.

Pantosaurus and the Power of PANTS is based on the charity’s Talk PANTS campaign that many nursery and primary school aged children across the region will be familiar with, not least because of the friendly yellow dinosaur Pantosaurus.

The book will help families start simple and age-appropriate conversations with their children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse and I’m delighted it’s been published – especially with Pantosaurus celebrating his 5th birthday this year.

From P through to S, each letter

of PANTS provides a simple but important message for children that their private parts are private, their body belongs to them, and that they should try to tell an adult they trust if they’re worried or upset. Making sure that all children have the vital language that they need to speak out to a trusted adult if they ever have a worry or concern is so important, particularly when NSPCC research suggests that one in 20 children in the UK has been sexually abused.

The book is on shelves now. It’s written by Rebecca Girlings and illustrated by Fhiona Galloway and Jamie Nash, and NSPCC Ambassador actress Natalie Dormer will be voicing the audio book.

The money raised from the sale of the book will help enable the NSPCC to continue to be here for children across the South West. Emma Motherwell Local Campaigns Manager