Keeping Children Safe at Cottenham Village College
Cottenham Village College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We are fully committed to ensuring that consistent, effective safeguarding procedures are in place to support families, students and staff at school.
Getting help if you feel worried or anxious
Please try not to worry if you usually get help and support in school (or feel like you need some extra support now). During any times we are closed you can pick from this list of services if you need to talk to someone.
If you work with a Young People’s Worker, Centre 33 or the Young Carers you can contact them directly on the numbers they have given you.
During normal term times, in addition to the contacts below, please speak to your form tutor, a member of Pastoral or a member of staff you feel comfortable talking to if you feel you need help. We are committed to working in close partnership with students, parents and outside agencies.
You can also email safeguarding@astreacottenham.org and someone from the safeguarding team will help you.
We value the support and help provided by the large number of local and national support agencies that exist. They can be called upon to offer addition guidance on key topics. Outlined below are a selection of websites designed for young people and their parents/carers.
| Service | Information/Support Offered | Contact details |
| CAMHS Live | Support with feelings of Depression, Anxiety, Self-harming, Suicidal thoughts, Stressed | www.nhft.nhs.uk/camhslive |
| Young Minds | Website resources and Crisis Messenger | https://youngminds.org.uk/ |
| Childline | Online, on the phone help about all areas of concern. Web site is full of useful information | 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk |
| Victim Support Cambridgeshire | Impacted by crime in Cambridgeshire, get support here | 0800 781 6818 (8am-7pm M-F, 9am-5pm Sat) 0808 169 9111 (outside normal hours) |
| CIRV | In a Gang and want out? Know someone else who needs help getting out of gang related activity? | Call 24/7 on 07539183975 |
| CASUS | Need help with Drug & Alcohol abuse? CASUS is an early intervention drug and alcohol service for young people aged 10-18. | 01480 445316 Casus@cpft.nhs.uk |
| STEM | Supporting teenage mental health | www.stem4.org.uk |
| NHS | For your mind, for your body – support for all areas | www.nhs.uk |
| NSPCC | National Society for the Protection of Children | 0808 800 5000 (free) |
| Mental Health Foundation | Support material | https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ |
| Samaritans | Support for people in crisis | 08457 909090 |
| School Nursing | Chat Service | 07480 635443 |
| Kooth | Free safe and online support for young people | Kooth.com |
| CHUMS | Mental health and emotional wellbeing to support children | Chums.uk.com 0330 0581 659 |
| HEAR | Free and confidential 24/7 text messaging service for mental health support | Text ‘HEAR’ to 85258 |
| Nessie | Supporting positive mental health of children and young people | nessieined.com |