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The Ranch Weymouth take our duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children extremely seriously.
Designated Safeguarding Lead Iain Woodbridge (Level 3) & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Tara Ballam (Qts BSc).
Our Team know that Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Our dedicated Safeguards ensure that all of The Ranch are kept up to date through monthly supervisions and training.
The Ranch encourage our young people to have a voice. Around our setting and across all of our sites, we display posters and QR codes for young people to feel at ease to raise a concern, and who they can turn to. We also use the ClassDojo system to communicate any important issues or updates in a child centred way.
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Kooth is an online well-being community where you can get free, safe and anonymous support.
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Video Guides
Age Restrictions
County Lines
We get it — apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat can feel like your main link to friends, fun, and staying in the loop. Group chats and snap streaks can be exciting and help you feel connected, especially when things feel tough. Social media can be a space to express yourself, share your world, and be part of something bigger. But sometimes, it can also feel like too much. Messages coming in non-stop, pressure to reply straight away, or things being said that make you feel uncomfortable or left out — it can really affect how you feel about yourself and others.
You don’t have to be online all the time to stay connected. It's okay to step back, mute chats, or take a break if it’s getting too much. You have the right to set boundaries and feel safe in your digital space. And if you ever feel like someone’s shared something of you online without your permission — or you’re just not sure how to deal with something that’s happened — there’s help available. You can visit Report Remove (by Childline and the IWF) to take action and get support. You’re not alone — and you deserve to feel safe, respected, and in control, both online and off.
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Parents/Carers: Talk About It
Open and regular conversations about your child’s activity on WhatsApp are a great way to minimise potential harms and keep them safe when using the platform.
Talking with your child about what they are using WhatsApp for is valuable because it can create a safe space in which they feel comfortable in sharing any concerns they have.
Once this dialogue and trust has been established, it will make it easier for them to come to you with any issues they encounter while using WhatsApp
Our Policy can be downloaded by clicking the button below and also via our Policies tab above.
All of our policies and procedures can be found on our website.
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Useful Links
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Do you know a young person who may be feeling anxious, depressed and may need a helping hand?
CAMHS Dorset is designed by Dorset HealthCare providing services for anyone needing help and advice with stress, anxiety, eating disorders and other mental health issues.
It signposts young people to the support they might need and there are sections aimed at parents and carers, as well as professionals.
Dorset Children's Advice and Duty Service (ChAD) - Single point of contact for safeguarding concerns:
For Dorset Children’s Advice and Duty Service and Early Help contact Tel: 01305 228866 or use this link: Worried about a child - Dorset Council
If you become aware of someone at risk of immediate harm call 999.
Useful contacts – for 11-18 year olds
If you're 11-18 years old, click the phone icon below for a list of organisations and services that can offer you support and information. All of the contact numbers listed here are helplines, unless we've noted what they're for instead. If you're feeling overwhelmed and like you can't cope, you can:
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Call HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141
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or the Samaritans on 116 123.
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Text SHOUT to Shout's textline on 85258.
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Call the NHS on 111 and select option 2.
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If you feel like you may attempt suicide, or you have seriously hurt yourself, you can:
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Call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
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Tell an adult you trust and ask them to call 999.
Belonging
LGBTQIA+
The Ranch Xtreme is a welcoming space that embraces diversity and education. We are proud to be lgbtqia+ supportive and inclusive of all.
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Our mission is to provide a safe environment for all individuals to learn and grow. Join us in our journey towards acceptance and empowerment.
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We have a duty to make sure that our Tribe are not discriminated against because they are LGBTQIA+.
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The Equality Act 2010 lists ‘gender reassignment’ and ‘sexual orientation’ as protected characteristics.
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LGBTQIA+ History Month
Useful Links
www.youngstonewall.org.uk – This website has helpful advice and information. If you need to talk to someone, checkout the Stonewall information service.
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www.theproudtrust.org/for-young-people – The Proud Trust are a charity who support LGBTQ+ youth
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https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/about-us – Specific information about Transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse support