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Our Careers Lead is:

Sally Small

You can contact Sally on

0115 958 7257 or 07725 306006

or

sally.small@atem.co.uk

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Did you know you can use Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) applications to help you decide on your future career?

The top tip below is taken from the Open University careers website and shows how you can use GenAI in order to improve your careers and employability skills:

Think outside the box

When people think of AI and careers, they may think about using ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or similar tools to create a CV or write an application.

However, their use goes far beyond this.

Try using it to:

Help you decide what career to pursue.

Find out more about a career you are interested in.

Pinpoint local organisations to contact with a speculative approach

Review your applications whilst adopting the persona of a career coach

Prepare for an upcoming interview

The link above will take you to the Open University website.

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But what is the Rule of Law?

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This short 2 minute video produced by the UK Judiciary Service explains the Rule of Law and why it is important for everyone.

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Rules keep you and everyone else safe.

At Access Training, we expect you to:

understand the importance of laws and Access Training's' rules

understand that actions have consequences

take responsibility for your own behaviour

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The rule of law means that rules and laws help keep everyone safe and ensure fairness.

We are all expected to follow them and understand that actions have consequences.

Rule of law implies that every citizen is subject to the law, including the law makers themselves.

This is different from a dictatorship where the rulers are held above the law.

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Rule of Law is one of the four Fundamental British Values, which also include Democracy, Individual Liberty and Respect and Tolerance.

You can read more about the remaining three Fundamental British Values by clicking above and accessing the Access Training Padlet on this topic.

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There are lots of resources available online for you to help yourself with your Mental Health.

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This 4 minute video ask you some questions about Diversity and how you might be different from the people around you.

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This very short video produced by BBC Northern Ireland explains the benefits of a diverse society.

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What is diversity? - BBC Bitesize Key Stage 3 Learning for Life and Work

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Look at the different cultural events taking place in April 2026 alone.

How many of these did you know about?

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Are these AI prompts damaging your thinking skills? - bbc.co.uk

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Are these AI prompts damaging your thinking skills? - bbc.co.uk

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Experts warn AI is making your brain work less

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Generative AI tools have become hugely popular but some experts worry about the effect they have on the brain.

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To provide a more extreme view is this video on the BBC World Service about how AI might destroy humanity.

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AI2027: Is this how AI might destroy humanity? - BBC World Service

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Artificial Intelliegence (AI) or specifically Generative AI is one of the most rapidly growing technologies the world has ever seen.

Over the past 2 years in particular it has gone from something which a few people had heard of, to becoming something which everyone has heard of.

Common Generative AI tools include ChatGPT, CoPilot, Gemini and Claude to name a few.

According to Wikipedia ,as of 2025, ChatGPT had emerged as the 4th most visited website globally, surpassed only by Google, YouTube and Facebook.

But is the rise of AI a good thing or a bad thing?

Here are some other questions you might want to consider:

Does it make my life easier or harder?

Does it provide as many opportunities as it does risks?

Should we be running towards it or running away from it?

Below are some articles to raise your awareness of AI and what it might mean to you.

Please note: All of the articles below are produced by other organisations and do not represent any views of Access Training. They are provided to give you information about the subject of AI from different view points. Whether you think that AI is a good or bad thing is for you to decide.

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Parents think they know how kids use AI. They don't - bbc.co.uk

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Parents think they know how kids use AI. They don't - bbc.co.uk

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Parents think they know how kids use AI. They don’t

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New surveys asked teens how they use AI. Parents have no idea what’s going on, from homework to emotional support.

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The King's Trust: Gen(eration) AI Report

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The King's Trust: Gen(eration) AI Report

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New King’s Trust Report finds AI set to transform over half of jobs held by young people in the UK.

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About Domestic Abuse - Womens Aid (womensaid.org)

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About Domestic Abuse - Womens Aid (womensaid.org)

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Domestic abuse is a pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, it is the misuse of power and control by one person over another. It is never acceptable and we are here to help.

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Below are some online resources to help explain some aspects of unhealthy relationships in more detail.

The subjects covered include:

Child Sexual Exploitation

Domestic Abuse for both Women and Men

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Mindspan - Improve Your Thinking, Improve Your Life

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Setting Goals and Living with Purpose in January 2025 - Mindspan

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How much do you want a life of fulfilment? How much do you want to get the best out of yourself? Truly fulfilled and successful people are clear about what’s important to them, have a strong sense of purpose, and set personal goals that drive their day-to-day activities. As we embark on a new year

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11. Among other professions, people with disabilities work as stockbrokers, lawyers, doctors and teachers?

12. People with disabilities prefer to hang out with others who have disabilities?

13. Most public places such as cinemas and restaurants are easy for people who use wheelchairs to enjoy?

14. People with disabilities can’t dance?

15. It’s okay to ask people with disabilities about their disabilities?

16. People with disabilities can participate in competitive sports?

17. People with disabilities can’t live on their own when they grow up?

18. Disabilities are illnesses to be treated by medical professionals in the hope of a cure?

19. People can become disabled at any point in their lives?

20. Many people with disabilities feel their real disability involves problems with the environment rather than problems with their bodies?

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1. Only people who can’t walk use wheelchairs?

2. You have a friend who has a speech impairment and sometimes you’re not sure what he said. To make things easier, you should pretend that you understand?

3. When you meet someone who is blind or visually impaired, you should introduce yourself to that person?

4. When communicating with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, it is necessary to speak through an interpreter?

5. It’s safe to assume that people with disabilities usually need help?

6. It’s okay to gossip about people who are deaf, hard of hearing because they can’t hear you anyway?

7. People who use wheelchairs can’t go anyplace fun?

8. People with cerebral palsy usually have a cognitive disability, too?

9. People with disabilities want to be treated just like everyone else?

10. When you meet someone with a guide or companion dog, you should make friends with the dog first so that the dog is comfortable with you being nearby?

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Topics for previous months from 2024-25 are archived here

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Topics for previous months from 2024-25 are archived here

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Not all content will be updated and some links may no longer work.

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CFR.org - How Climate Change Affects Our Health

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CFR.org - How Climate Change Affects Our Health

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CFR Education from the Council on Foreign Relations

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A warmer world threatens more extreme weather and infectious disease, but policymakers can counter climate change’s damages to global health.

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CFR.org - How Humans Cause Climate Change

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CFR.org - How Humans Cause Climate Change

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CFR Education from the Council on Foreign Relations

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Every aspect of modern life carries hidden environmental costs. Recognizing the human-driven causes of climate change can help build a more sustainable future.

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CFR Education from the Council on Foreign Relations

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In this educational video, learn why the climate is changing, how it affects us, and what we can do about it.

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Article about Nottingham's own Eric Irons?

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Who was Eric Irons OBE? - Blog - City Arts (Nottingham)

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Mural of Eric Irons on the Carrington Street Bridge

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Below are links to websites and additional reading about Black History Month.

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This year’s theme for Black History Month is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”, which celebrates the resilience, strength, and achievements of Black people, honor their contributions to history, and look toward a future of continued empowerment and progress. The theme highlights the profound impact of Black leaders, activists, and pioneers

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The theme for Black History Month UK 2025 is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” a powerful tribute to the resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment

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You can visit the Black History Month website using the link above.

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Black History Month 2023 - Celebrating our Sisters | Matriarchs of Movements #WEMATTER

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In recognition of their leadership, talent, and impact, this year's Black History Month 2023 will highlight pioneering black women who have blazed a trail in literature, music, fashion, sport, business, hair, catering, academia, social and health care, and more.

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Below are three videos from the NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) that show the difference that people have made to both themselves and their community through voluntary work.

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One way to make a positive impact in your community is volunteering.

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Access Training are based in Nottingham City Centre, but our learners and apprentices come from many different areas and communities which surround Nottingham, so our community is your community.

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Now that you know what a community is, which communities are you a part of?

Remember these could be because of geography, common values or shared interests.

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Our Community - Learner Progress Reviews

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Our Community - Learner Progress Reviews

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Below are a few ideas for discussion topics which might be raised by your Trainer / Tutor at your learner progress review:

How do Fundamental British Values support our community? Think about mutual respect and tolerance.

What does community mean to you?

How is your community perceived by non-members? Does this impact on you? Think about stereotyping and prejudice as well as any positives.

Why is diversity important in a community?

Are you aware of what sustainability is? Research social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

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World Suicide Prevention Day - Samaritans

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World Suicide Prevention Day - Samaritans

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Every year, on 10 September, organisations around the world get together to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

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Some topics on the Citizenship Calendar relate to Access Training's commitment to become more sustainable and to minimise the negative impact on the environment.

They are marked with an image of Earth as above and are highlighted in green.

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Below are some additional resources.

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Understanding financial stress

If you're worried about money, you're not alone. Many of us, from all over the world and from all walks of life, are having to deal with financial stress and uncertainty at this difficult time. Whether your problems stem from a loss of work, escalating debt, unexpected expenses, or a combination of factors, financial worry is one of the most common stressors in modern life. Even before the global coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic fallout, an American Psychological Association (APA) study found that 72% of Americans feel stressed about money at least some of the time. The recent economic difficulties mean that even more of us are now facing financial struggles and hardship.

Like any source of overwhelming stress, financial problems can take a huge toll on your mental and physical health, your relationships, and your overall quality of life. Feeling beaten down by money worries can adversely impact your sleep, self-esteem, and energy levels. It can leave you feeling angry, ashamed, or fearful, fuel tension and arguments with those closest to you, exacerbate pain and mood swings, and even increase your risk of depression and anxiety. You may resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drinking, abusing drugs, or gambling to try to escape your worries. In the worst circumstances, financial stress can even prompt suicidal thoughts or actions. But no matter how hopeless your situation seems, there is help available. By tackling your money problems head on, you can find a way through the financial quagmire, ease your stress levels, and regain control of your finances-and your life.

Effects of financial stress on your health

While we all know deep down there are many more important things in life than money, when you're struggling financially fear and stress can take over your world. It can damage your self-esteem, make you feel flawed, and fill you with a sense of despair. When financial stress becomes overwhelming, your mind, body, and social life can pay a heavy price.
[Read: Stress Symptoms, Signs, and Causes]
Financial stress can lead to:

Insomnia or other sleep difficulties. Nothing will keep you tossing and turning at night more than worrying about unpaid bills or a loss of income.

Weight gain (or loss). Stress can disrupt your appetite, causing you to anxiously overeat or skip meals to save money.

Depression. Living under the cloud of money problems can leave anyone feeling down, hopeless, and struggling to concentrate or make decisions. According to a study at the University of Nottingham in the UK, people who struggle with debt are more than twice as likely to suffer from depression.

Anxiety. Money can be a safety net; without it, you may feel vulnerable and anxious. And all the worrying about unpaid bills or loss of income can trigger anxiety symptoms such as a pounding heartbeat, sweating, shaking, or even panic attacks.

Relationship difficulties. Money is often cited as the most common issue couples argue about. Left unchecked, financial stress can make you angry and irritable, cause a loss of interest in sex, and wear away at the foundations of even the strongest relationships.

Social withdrawal. Financial worries can clip your wings and cause you to withdraw from friends, curtail your social life, and retreat into your shell-which will only make your stress worse.

Physical ailments such as headaches, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. In countries without free healthcare, money worries may also cause you to delay or skip seeing a doctor for fear of incurring additional expenses.

Unhealthy coping methods, such as drinking too much, abusing prescription or illegal drugs, gambling, or overeating. Money worries can even lead to self-harm or thoughts of suicide.

If you are feeling suicidal...

The vicious cycle of poor financial health and poor mental health

A number of studies have demonstrated a cyclical link between financial worries and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

1. Financial problems adversely impact your mental health. The stress of debt or other financial issues leaves you feeling depressed or anxious.

2. The decline in your mental health makes it harder to manage money. You may find it harder to concentrate or lack the energy to tackle a mounting pile of bills. Or you may lose income by taking time off work due to anxiety or depression.

3. These difficulties managing money lead to more financial problems and worsening mental health problems, and so on. You become trapped in a downward spiral of increasing money problems and declining mental health.

No matter how bleak your situation may seem at the moment, there is a way out. These strategies can help you to break the cycle, ease the stress of money problems, and find stability again.

Tip 1: Talk to someone

When you're facing money problems, there's often a strong temptation to bottle everything up and try to go it alone. Many of us even consider money a taboo subject, one not to be discussed with others. You may feel awkward about disclosing the amount you earn or spend, feel shame about any financial mistakes you've made, or embarrassed about not being able to provide for your family. But bottling things up will only make your financial stress worse. In the current economy, where many people are struggling through no fault of their own, you'll likely find others are far more understanding of your problems.
[Read: Social Support for Stress Relief]
Not only is talking face-to-face with a trusted friend or loved one a proven means of stress relief, but speaking openly about your financial problems can also help you put things in perspective. Keeping money worries to yourself only amplifies them until they seem insurmountable. The simple act of expressing your problems to someone you trust can make them seem far less intimidating.

The person you talk to doesn't have to be able to fix your problems or offer financial help.

To ease your burden, they just need to be willing to talk things out without judging or criticizing.

Be honest about what you're going through and the emotions you're experiencing.

Talking over your worries can help you make sense of what you're facing and your friend or loved one may even be able to come up with solutions that you hadn't thought of alone.

Getting professional advice

Depending on where you live, there are a number of organizations that offer free counseling on dealing with financial problems, whether it's managing debt, creating and sticking to a budget, finding work, communicating with creditors, or claiming benefits or financial assistance. (See the "Get more help" section below for links).

Whether or not you have a friend or loved one to talk to for emotional support, getting practical advice from an expert is always a good idea. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness and it doesn't mean that you've somehow failed as a provider, parent, or spouse. It just means that you're wise enough to recognize your financial situation is causing you stress and needs addressing.

Opening up to your family

Financial problems tend to impact the whole family and enlisting your loved ones' support can be crucial in turning things around. Even if you take pride in being self-sufficient, keep your family up to date on your financial situation and how they can help you save money.

Let them express their concerns. Your loved ones are probably worried-about both you and the financial stability of your family unit. Listen to their concerns and allow them to offer suggestions on how to resolve the financial problems you're facing.

Make time for (inexpensive) family fun. Set aside regular time where you can enjoy each other's company, let off steam, and forget about your financial worries. Walking in the park, playing games, or exercising together doesn't have to cost money but it can help ease stress and keep the whole family positive.

Tip 2: Take inventory of your finances

If you're struggling to make ends meet, you may think you can ease your stress by leaving bills unopened, avoiding phone calls from creditors, or ignoring bank and credit card statements. But denying the reality of your situation will only make things worse in the long run. The first step to devising a plan to solve your money problems is to detail your income, debt, and spending over the course of at least one month.

A number of websites and smartphone apps can help you keep track of your finances moving forward or you can work backwards by gathering receipts and examining bank and credit card statements. Obviously, some money difficulties are easier to solve than others, but by taking inventory of your finances you'll have a much clearer idea of where you stand. And as daunting or painful as the process may seem, tracking your finances in detail can also help you start to regain a much-needed sense of control over your situation.

Include every source of income. In addition to any salary, include bonuses, benefits, alimony, child support, or any interest you receive.

Keep track of ALL your spending. When you're faced with a pile of past-due bills and mounting debt, buying a coffee on the way to work may seem like an irrelevant expense. But seemingly small expenses can mount up over time, so keep track of everything. Understanding exactly how you spend your money is key to budgeting and devising a plan to address your financial problems.

List your debts. Include past-due bills, late fees, and list minimum payments due as well as any money you owe to family or friends.

Identify spending patterns and triggers. Does boredom or a stressful day at work cause you to head to the mall or start online shopping? When the kids are acting out, do you keep them quiet with expensive restaurant or takeout meals, rather than cooking at home? Once you're aware of your triggers you can find healthier ways of coping with them than resorting to "retail therapy".

Look to make small changes. Spending money on things like a morning newspaper, lunchtime sandwich, or break-time cigarettes can add up to a significant monthly outlay. While it may be unreasonable to deny yourself every small pleasure, cutting down on nonessential spending and finding small ways to reduce your daily expenditure can really help to free up extra cash to pay off bills.

Eliminate impulse spending. Ever seen something online or in a shop window that you just had to buy? Impulsive buying can wreck your budget and max out your credit cards. To break the habit, try making a rule that you'll wait a week before making any new purchase.

Go easy on yourself. As you review your debt and spending habits, remember that anyone can get into financial difficulties, especially at times like this. Don't use this as an excuse to punish yourself for any perceived financial mistakes. Give yourself a break and focus on the aspects you can control as you look to move forward.

When your financial problems go beyond money

Sometimes, the causes for your financial difficulties may lie elsewhere. For example, money troubles can stem from problem gambling, fraud abuse, or a mental health issue, such as overspending during a bipolar manic episode.

To prevent the same financial problems recurring, it's imperative you address both the underlying issue and the money troubles it's created in your life.

Tip 3: Make a plan-and stick to it

Just as financial stress can be caused by a wide range of different money problems, so there are an equally wide range of possible solutions. The plan to address your specific problem could be to live within a tighter budget, lower the interest rate on your credit card debt, curb your online spending, seek government benefits, declare bankruptcy, or to find a new job or additional source of income.

If you've taken inventory of your financial situation, eliminated discretionary and impulse spending, and your outgoings still exceed your income, there are essentially three choices open to you: increase your income, lower your spending, or both. How you go about achieving any of those goals will require making a plan and following through on it.

1. Identify your financial problem. Having taken inventory, you should be able to clearly identify the financial problem you're facing. It may be that you have too much credit card debt, not enough income, or you overspend on unnecessary purchases when you feel stressed or anxious. Or perhaps, it's a combination of problems. Make a separate plan for each one.

2. Devise a solution. Brainstorm ideas with your family or a trusted friend, or consult a free financial counseling service. You may decide that talking to credit card companies and requesting a lower interest rate would help solve your problem. Or maybe you need to restructure your debt, eliminate your car payment, downsize your home, or talk to your boss about working overtime.

3. Put your plan into action. Be specific about how you can follow through on the solutions you've devised. Perhaps that means cutting up credit cards, networking for a new job, registering at a local food bank, or selling things on eBay to pay off bills, for example.

4. Monitor your progress. As we've all experienced recently, events that impact your financial health can happen quickly, so it's important to regularly review your plan. Are some aspects working better than others? Do changes in interest rates, your monthly expenses, or your hourly wage, for example, mean you should revise your plan?

5. Don't get derailed by setbacks. We're all human and no matter how tight your plan, you may stray from your goal or something unexpected could happen to derail you. Don't beat yourself up, but get back on track as soon as possible.

The more detailed you can make your plan, the less powerless you'll feel over your financial situation.

Tip 4: Create a monthly budget

Whatever your plan to relieve your financial problems, setting and following a monthly budget can help keep you on track and regain your sense of control.

Include everyday expenses in your budget, such as groceries and the cost of traveling to work, as well as monthly rent, mortgage, and utility bills.

For items that you pay annually, such as car insurance or property tax, divide them by 12 so you can set aside money each month.

If possible, try to factor in unexpected expenses, such as a medical co-pay or prescription charge if you fall sick, or the cost of home or car repairs.

Set up automatic payments wherever possible to help ensure bills are paid on time and you avoid late payments and interest rate hikes.

Prioritize your spending. If you're having trouble covering your expenses each month, it can help to prioritize where your money goes first. For example, feeding and housing yourself and your family and keeping the power on are necessities. Paying your credit card isn't-even if you're behind on your payments and have debt collection companies harassing you.

Keep looking for ways to save money. Most of us can find something in our budget that we can eliminate to help make ends meet. Regularly review your budget and look for ways to trim expenses.

Enlist support from your spouse, partner, or kids. Make sure everyone in your household is pulling in the same direction and understands the financial goals you're working towards.

Tip 5: Manage your overall stress

Resolving financial problems tends to involve small steps that reap rewards over time. In the current economic climate, it's unlikely your financial difficulties will disappear overnight. But that doesn't mean you can't take steps right away to ease your stress levels and find the energy and peace of mind to better deal with challenges in the long-term.
[Read: Stress Management]
Get moving. Even a little regular exercise can help ease stress, boost your mood and energy, and improve your self-esteem. Aim for 30 minutes on most days, broken up into short 10-minute bursts if that's easier.

Practice a relaxation technique. Take time to relax each day and give your mind a break from the constant worrying. Meditating, breathing exercises, or other relaxation techniques are excellent ways to relieve stress and restore some balance to your life.

Don't skimp on sleep. Feeling tired will only increase your stress and negative thought patterns. Finding ways to improve your sleep during this difficult time will help both your mind and body.

Boost your self-esteem. Rightly or wrongly, experiencing financial problems can cause you to feel like a failure and impact your self-esteem. But there are plenty of other, more rewarding ways to improve your sense of self-worth. Even when you're struggling yourself, helping others by volunteering can increase your confidence and ease stress, anger, and anxiety-not to mention aid a worthy cause. Or you could spend time in nature, learn a new skill, or enjoy the company of people who appreciate you for who you are, rather than for your bank balance.

Eat healthy food. A healthy diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and omega-3s can help support your mood and improve your energy and outlook. And you don't have to spend a fortune; there are ways to eat well on a budget.

Be grateful for the good things in your life. When you're plagued by money worries and financial uncertainty, it's easy to focus all your attention on the negatives. While you don't have to ignore reality and pretend everything's fine, you can take a moment to appreciate a close relationship, the beauty of a sunset, or the love of a pet, for example. It can give your mind a break from the constant worrying, help boost your mood, and ease your stress.

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Coping with Financial Stress - HelpGuide.org

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These tips can help you deal with money worries, ease stress and anxiety, and regain control of your finances.

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Sky News programme about the effects of living with debt. Although this was originally published 6 years ago, most if the information is still applicable today.

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Below are some money management websites suitable for all ages.

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BETTER BUDGETING

Six easy tips for everyday money management

Finances are different for everyone, but there are some tips that work for us all - let's explore some of them.

SAVING MADE SIMPLE

Cutting back on a few non-essential items could be a quick way to help you save a little more each month

10 ways to help get your spending under control right now

When the future is uncertain, getting a grip on your outgoings can be vital. From savvy saving to smart spending, we've highlighted actions you can take to help you regain control over your outgoings.

Get in control of your family finances, check you're not missing out on any savings and try our 7 quick tips and tricks.

BETTER BUDGETING

Getting the balance

Spending isn't an issue, but it's important to make sure you're not spending too much. Let's explore some ways of finding a balance.

Worried about your finances? Our practical advice can help you tackle money troubles, improve your financial habits and find the support you need.

ALL ABOUT BANKING

What is it and why is it important?

Buying a house or owning a business might not be on your radar right now, but you should still manage your money today to prepare for your future plans.

ALL ABOUT BANKING

Discover some fun ways to teach your children about money to help them develop good financial habits from an early age.

Barclays Money Mentors

Let's sort your money

Get free and impartial help from Barclays Money Mentors®. You can ask them about anything, from the basics of budgeting to buying your first home.

Uncover the money secrets you didn't know you had with the Barclays app. The app gives you insight into your everyday spending, helping you to see clearly where and how you spend, so you can get to know you, a little better.

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Financial health | Financial support and advice with money | Barclays

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BETTER BUDGETING Six easy tips for everyday money management Finances are different for everyone, but there are some tips that work for us all - let's explore some of them.

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Important

You should immediately contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you've received court papers, are facing eviction or are expecting bailiffs.

Use a budget planner tool to help you understand:

Before you start

The planner will be most useful if you give accurate figures. You can use rough figures if you just want a general idea of your budget.

Try to find your most recent:

Make sure you include all your expenses, for example money you spend on your partner or family.

Use the budget planner

You can use the free budget planner on the MoneyHelper website.

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Use a budgeting tool to help you understand what you're earning and spending and where you might be able to cut costs

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Find out what support is available to help increase your income. This includes the Cost of Living Payment, Universal Credit and Carer's Allowance.

Support with bills and costs

Find out what support is available to help with bills and costs. This includes support with utility bills, support from your local council and Council Tax Reduction.

If you're 60 or over

Find out what support is available if you're 60 or over. This includes Pension Credit, discounted travel and how to check your State Pension.

If you're disabled or have a health condition

Find out what support is available if you're disabled or have a health condition. This includes disability benefits, the Disability Cost of Living Payment and support with prescriptions and health costs.

Childcare and maternity costs

Find out what support is available with childcare and maternity costs. This includes free childcare hours and free school meals.

Managing money

Find advice for managing money, including budgeting advice and debt support.

If you're finding things difficult

Find support if money worries are impacting your mental health or you're affected by domestic abuse.

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Find out what support is available to help with the cost of living: income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel.

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Budget Planner | Free online budget planning tool | MoneyHelper

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Discover our free online MoneyHelper Budget Planner calculator to gain a better understanding of your money coming in and out, and how to improve your finances.

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Finance / Money Management for Young People

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Finance / Money Management for Young People

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Below are some money management resources that are aimed at young people in particular.

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This months topic on the Citizenship Calendar is Finance and Money management.

In the following sections are some resources aimed at different age groups.

We realise that talking about finance can be a very difficult and personal topic and the effect that having money worries can have on an individual.

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You might not have thought about or know what you want to do once you have completed your learning programme.

Below are some resources which might help you to focus on your careers aims.

We hope they are useful.

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If you really don't know what you want to do next, a vision board might help you look at different options.

But what is a Vision Board?

The website above explains what they are and how they might be useful in creating your own personal vision statement.

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Everyone has something that they want to bring to life. But what if you can't really see it?

If you don't have a vision and you're struggling to pinpoint what you want and where you want to go, it is difficult to get traction.

Without a clear vision, it's hard to direct your efforts in ways that serve your goals. It's also hard to attract the support and resources you need.

That's where a vision board comes in.

You might have heard people talk about manifestation, the idea that you can attract your dream vision into your life by thinking about it. In reality, our dreams don't manifest on their own. Achieving your goals and realizing your potential takes work.

At the same time, helps to have a detailed vision and a belief in your own ability to convert that visualization into action. And from action to reality.

Vision boards are an amazing tool to help you create that focused vision and kickstart the real manifestation process.

What exactly are vision boards, and do they really work? Vision boards are all about intentions, and they are a great way to remind yourself of what your intentions are.

Let's explore how to create a vision board for yourself and how to make the most of it once you whisk it into reality.

What are vision boards?

Vision boards are a collection of images or objects arranged in a way to help you manifest your goals or vision. This board can be physical or digital.

Vision boards are highly versatile. You can use them to manifest your personal goals or create a visual representation of a personal vision statement. They're perfect for helping you envision your dream life. But you can also use a vision board to outline your professional goals.

You can use a vision board for long term goals, like achieving your 5-year plan. Or you can create a yearly vision board, too.

People who use vision boards usually place them where they'll see them often. For instance, you can place a vision board on a mirror you use to get ready in the morning. Other people will prefer to hang it on a wall in a room they use often.

What should a vision board include?

The sky's the limit when it comes to what to include in a vision board. To start, you should add images that inspire you or make you feel a certain way. Think back to the last time you looked at an image or photo that made you feel something. How did you feel? Is this feeling something that aligns with your values?

That's what you're looking for when you're thinking of what to include on your board.

Vision boards also contain quotes that align with your vision. They can be:

Handwritten

Printed and attached to the board

Drawn in calligraphy

Cut up from interesting materials, like old shirts

In addition, a vision board can contain items of sentimental value. These items can be attached to special memories you have that remind you of your goals.

In reality, nothing is off-limits when it comes to a vision board. If it's feasible to add it to a board, you can try it. The important thing to consider is whether it will help you manifest your vision or not.

How do vision boards work?

You already know that you can't achieve your goals just by thinking about them (or chanting them or writing them down on X slips of paper).

So what's the deal with a vision board?

You create a board out of craft items, magazine clippings, and other miscellaneous items. How can something so simple help you set and achieve your goals? It can sometimes feel like magic.

Well, it's not quite magic. Instead, according to BetterUp's Dr. Erin Eatough, "It is the concept that thoughts precede behavior. Mindsets drive behaviors that drive outcomes."

Vision boards are effective because they are a visual reminder of your intentions and shape your thoughts and actions.

Vision boards give you a clear direction for where you want to go in several areas of your life. They allow you to visualize what goals you want to achieve. When you create a physical vision board, you can even touch what represents your vision.

Vision boards are a constant reminder of what your priorities are. You can get to know yourself a little better by clarifying what it is you want.

This visual reminder helps you "manifest the things you want" by taking action to get them. Whenever you need to make a decision in your life, your dream board is there to remind you of what matters to you. Think of it as a nudge in the right direction.

Vision boards are similar to journaling in this way. Some people find it easier to set their goals and visualize what they want by writing everything down. But vision boards are perfect for people who prefer a visual representation of that same purpose.

How to make a vision board for manifestation

Creating a vision board can be fun and easy. Engage with your creative, playful self. You don't need to overthink the process. Your own vision board is for you and you only, so there's no one you need to impress with it.

You can create a physical vision board that you can hang anywhere in your home or office following these steps:

1. Gather your materials

2. Take some time to clarify your vision

3. Find images and objects that represent your vision

4. Arrange your materials

5. Place your vision board where you'll see it often

Let's break down each of these steps.

1. Gather your materials

To make a vision board, you'll need a variety of materials. In some cases, you can make do with what you have on hand. But some materials are more important than others.

For instance, you'll need a board as a base. There are several types of boards you can use, including:

Wire boards

Whiteboards

Magnetic board for your fridge

Corkboards

If you don't want to spend a ton on new items to make your vision board, it's not necessary to use one of these types of bases. Instead, you can cut out a large piece of cardboard from a box you have at home. Or, you can purchase a large poster board at your closest dollar store.

You'll also need images or items to add to the board. Those images can come from a variety of sources, including:

Old magazines and catalogs

Printed versions of online images

Old photos

Postcards

Next, you'll need something to secure your items to your base. You can use what you have on hand or purchase what you prefer to use. Pins and clips work well. You can also use glue sticks or tape. If you're making a magnetic board, you can use small magnets to secure your images.

Scissors will be useful to help you cut out your images.

Finally, you'll need a variety of craft tools like pens, markers, paint, stickers, or anything else you want to use to embellish your board. You can use as little or as much of these materials as you desire.

2. Take some time to clarify your vision

Before you start crafting, take more than a few moments to clarify your vision. What do you want to manifest with your board?

Get as clear as you can on your vision. Don't rush this step. It's the foundation for your entire board. You will find that you get even more clarity, and detail, as you create the board.

Don't distract yourself with other entertainment during this step, like watching TV in the background or talking to a family member while you're thinking about your vision. It's important to remain self-aware as you clarify your vision.

You can journal about it if it helps to write things down.

3. Find images and objects that represent your vision

You've already gathered your materials. Now, it's time to prepare them to be displayed on your board.

In addition to images, you can find quotes to add to your board. You can print them out or write them yourself with a nice pen or marker.

Are there any items associated with memories from your life that spark the feeling you're envisioning? If so, consider adding it to your board.

You can even add craft items like scraps of fabric. Or, you can include items from nature like tree branches if it makes sense with your goals. For instance, adding some leaves or pine needles could remind you that you want to spend more time in nature.

4. Arrange your materials

Now it's time to take everything you've prepared and arrange your board.

Have some fun with this step. Your layout should inspire you. There's no need to rush it.

Feel free to play around with different layout options until it feels just right for you. This process is part of developing a clearer, more detailed vision for the future.

You may discover that you're missing something when you get to this point. Don't hesitate to go back if you want to add anything new.

When you're done, secure everything in place with your binding material of choice. Don't secure your items too quickly. Make sure you're happy with it. If you're using pins or clips, it's easy to change things around. But if you're gluing or taping your materials, it'll be much more difficult to change your mind afterward.

5. Place your vision board where you'll see it often

It's finally time to place your vision board. Choose a place that makes sense for you. It should be easily accessible daily.

You can try:

Your fridge

An empty wall in your kitchen

An altar

A mirror

Your nightstand

Inside your home office if you work from home

Make sure not to secure your vision board too tightly in its new home. This is just in case you change your mind about the placement.

How to create a vision board online

Online vision boards can be accessed anywhere you have an online device. They also don't require printing or buying expensive materials.

Here's how you can make your first vision board come to life digitally.

1. Choose your tool

There are several options to create a free vision board. Some people like to use Pinterest because it's so easy to collect images and links. However, Pinterest isn't arranged like a traditional goal board. You can't create a layout like you could with a physical board.

One tool that makes it easy for non-designers to design their own digital vision board is

Canva. The user-friendly design tools in Canva can help you create a more traditional board, even if you don't have any design skills.

2. Source your images

The great thing about creating a vision board digitally is that you have virtually no limits for what type of images you can use.

There are so many high-quality images that are also royalty-free. Websites like Unsplash or Pixabay make it easy to search for exactly what you're looking for.

You can also source images from social media accounts you love. As long as you keep your vision board to yourself, you can use other people's images. Just remember that you don't own the copyright for these images. You'll need to ask for permission if you want to share your vision board publicly.

Additionally, you can search for vision board ideas online to help inspire you.

3. Use a template, or start from scratch

There are free and paid Canva templates available online. These templates make it even easier for you to design an amazing-looking vision board. All you need to do is add in your images and place them exactly where you want them.

You can also choose to start from scratch. If you do, you'll need to choose your board size. The board size you choose should depend on where you'll use it the most. For example, you should create a vertical board if you intend to mostly view your board on your smartphone's lock screen or background.

4. Add your images and quotes to your digital vision board

Once you're ready to go, it's time to add your images and quotes to your digital vision board.

If using Pinterest, pin what you see into the right board. But if you're using Canva or another design tool, you'll need to think about the placement of your images.

Just like a physical vision board, take your time with this step. The great thing about digital boards is that you can undo your work if you're not happy. You can also resize your images and quotes to make everything fit exactly how you envision it.

5. Save your image

Once you're happy with how your board looks, it's time to save and export your file. Note that you can't export a Pinterest board, so this only applies to a tool like Canva.

Inside Canva, you can easily save and export your image for free. A paid account will let you export more types of files.

So what can you do with your exported file? Add it to your phone lock screen or as a background on your computer. You can also decide to print the board to hang it somewhere in your home.

If you intend to print your board, make sure your board size is large enough for the final printing size. A board that's too small will look blurry and pixelated if printed in a very large size.

Manifestation ideas for your vision board

Now you know how to create a vision board from scratch. But it can be difficult to start when there's so much you want to accomplish.

Let's go over some manifestation ideas to inspire what items to add to your board.

Career aspirations: images from trade magazines, tools of the trade, images that represent financial abundance

Self-care: inspiring quotes, reminders, soothing images that inspire wellness, workout inspiration

Love and relationships: quotes that represent your point of view on relationships, images of loving relationships

Positivity: images that spark joy within you, quotes that make you feel positive and mentally fit

Travel: images of your dream destinations, postcards, images of planes or trains, photos of you traveling

How to use your vision board

There are several ways you can use your newly created vision board to help your affirmations come to life.

First, consider including your vision board in your daily self-care routine. You can take time for yourself every morning to look at your vision board. Meditate and use the images you've created to inspire your meditation.

You can do the same thing in the evening before you go to bed. Instead of scrolling through your phone in your bed, take some self-care time to look at your vision board and meditate on your vision again.

This isn't magic. It's shaping your thoughts and reinforcing your priorities. It's motivating. The last thing you'll think about before you go to sleep will be what you envision for your life. Isn't that powerful?

When you create your vision board, you can also leave some areas blank to make room for what you want. You're always growing as a person. It makes sense that you'll have new goals to develop over time.

Another technique you can use is to speak your goals out loud. When you look at your vision board, speak affirmation of your capability to realize your goals. I am enough. I have all of the tools and resources I need to X. I can do this. You can even incorporate speaking into your meditation if it works well for you.

You aren't "speaking your goals into existence" so much as reinforcing positive self-talk in your mind. Achieving your dreams is hard enough without a runaway train of negative self-talk to contend with.

One of the best ways to make your vision board work is to make sure you don't just visualize. You also have to take action.

If you want to get your dream job, start developing the skills you need to succeed in this position. If you want to travel more, open a new savings account and set up automatic transfers every month. If you want to spend more time outdoors, add some dedicated time to your calendar for outdoor activities.

Finally, refresh your board when you feel the need to do so. You'll know it's time to refresh the board when looking at it no longer inspires you the way it used to. Maybe your passion and true north have changed over time.

Learn how to create a vision board to accomplish your goals this year

Now that you know how to create a vision board, hopefully you can see that it's a fun and creative way to visualize and make your goals a reality. This tool is especially effective if you find it helpful to have a daily reminder of where you're headed. Whenever you have to make a difficult decision, you'll have your vision board to help guide you in the right direction.

Another powerful way to manifest your vision is to work with a coach to get clear on what you want and create a plan of action. Achieving your goals and growing into your best self isn't always easy, but it's much easier when you have the right support.

Whether you want to accomplish personal goals, professional aspirations, or both, BetterUp can help you on your journey.

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5 Steps to Create a Vision Board That Does Its Job

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Everyone has something that they want to bring to life. But what if you can't really see it? If you don't have a vision and you're struggling to pinpoint what you want and where you want to go, it is difficult to get traction.

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This months topic on the Citizenship Calendar is Careers, Employability and Aspirations.

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Now see the Rule of Law in action.

"You be the Judge" links you to a number of criminal cases.

There is a video to watch for each of the different crimes that have been committed. These include:

Fraud

Possession of Drugs

Possession of a Bladed Article

Robbery

Assault on an Emergency Worker

Possession of a Firearm

You can review each case and then using all the facts available decide on the punishment that you would give for offence.

It will then reveal the actual sentence that the person received.

See if you agree or disagree with the sentencing.

Do you think it is fair? You be the judge!

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There are six scenarios for you to watch that are based on real-life examples. Listen to the facts of each case, weigh up the aggravating and mitigating factors and then use your judgement to decide what you think the sentence should be. At the end, you’ll get to see how your sentence compares with the one handed down by the judge or the magistrates.

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This months topic on the Citizenship Calendar is "Rule of Law".

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April is Stress Awareness Month and the following information is take from the stress.org.uk website

This Year’s Theme: #BeTheChange

For over 30 years, Stress Awareness Month has had a different theme each year which reflects societal challenges.

For Stress Awareness Month 2026, we’re proud to introduce the theme:

#BeTheChange

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#BeTheChange is the theme of Stress Awareness month 2026.

The following information is taken from the stress.org.uk website.

#BeTheChange is a powerful call to personal agency, action, and transformation rooted in the principles of Self-Efficacy, Neuroplasticity, and Relational Connection.

We live in a time where it’s easy to wait for someone else to step up, to fix things, to make the first move, to create change. We wait for systems to improve, for people to be kinder, for stress to simply disappear. And too often, we give up before we begin, telling ourselves: “How could one person like me possibly make a difference?”

Click on the website above to see how you can help and what action you could take.

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Stress Awareness Month 2026 - The Stress Management Society

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What is Stress Awareness Month? Stress Awareness Month is an annual event observed every April since 1992, dedicated to increasing public awareness about the causes, effects, and management of stress. The Stress Management Society, a nonprofit organisation established in 2003, has been championing this initiative for over two decades. Our mission is to help individuals […]

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There are two quizzes below relating to mental health and the environment.

The answers are included in the sections below.

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Whats Next After Your Learning Programme?

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Whats Next After Your Learning Programme?

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Completing your training programme with Access Training is a significant milestone, but what you do next is one of the most important measures of your success.

Your time with Access is just one step on your career journey, and we encourage you to keep progressing, growing, and reaching higher goals throughout your working life.

So, have you thought about what you want to do next?

Your Trainer Assessor will discuss your next steps as part of the learner review process. Progress reviews happen throughout your learning programme but the focus on your next steps will increase as you come towards the end of your learning programme.

So to make sure you are ready for these discussions, here are some questions to consider.

Do you know what you want to do next, once your have completed your current learning programme?

Do you have a dream job / career?

How could Access Training help you with your next steps?

Is your apprenticeship / learning programme helping you to achieve your careers aim?

Are you learning the correct knowledge, skills and behaviours to help you achieve your careers aims?

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How to ask someone if they are ok (when they are clearly not) 

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How to ask someone if they are ok (when they are clearly not) 

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This is a useful website about how to ask someone if they are OK, even if you think that they are not.

This sounds like a simple thing to do, but done properly could mean a lot to someone you know.

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How to ask someone if they are OK (when they’re clearly not) - My Online Therapy

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Because sometimes it’s hard to tell someone you’re struggling…

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The gov.uk website contains information about how the UK government incorporate equality into it's core objectives, and "making every effort to eliminate discrimination, create equal opportunities and develop good working relationships between different people".

This includes the Equality Act 2010.

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When we're making decisions, the Equality Act 2010 gives us a duty to take into account the need to:

eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation

advance equality of opportunity

foster good relations between different parts of the community

The Equality Act protects people against discrimination on the grounds of protected characteristics, of which there are 9:

age

disability

gender reassignment

marriage and civil partnership

pregnancy and maternity

race

religion or belief

sex

sexual orientation

We are required to consider all individuals in their day to day work, in shaping policy and in providing services. This is in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty ( PSED) introduced by the Equality Act 2010.

Specific duties

We are transparent about how we respond to the PSED, as required by the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011. We set clear equality objectives and publish information on our efforts to achieve them.

Diversity and inclusion strategy

The diversity and inclusion strategy sets out our ambitions for equality and diversity between 2018 and 2025, both in relation to staff and in providing services to the public.

This strategy ensures that, as a department, we continue to champion equality and diversity in all that we do, whether it concerns our staff or the wider public.

A refreshed diversity and inclusion strategy will be published in 2021.

Equality objectives

To support the Home Office business plan to cut crime, control immigration and stop terrorism, and to meet the requirements of the PSED the department has devised specific equality objectives.

The objectives have addressed equality issues across our functions and the services we provide. We work with stakeholders to deal with the issues that are most pressing for the department.

External benchmarking

Participating in external benchmarks helps us to understand and assess our performance against our aims, and to establish how we could use the experience of others to increase the diversity of our workforce and the inclusion in our workplaces and the services we provide.

We have previously been awarded a place in the Stonewall Top 100 Employer's Index (2020) and in 2021 we were recognised as a Disability Confident Leader, a prestigious accreditation which will last for 3 years.

Staff support networks

While external benchmarks are important opportunities to evaluate our progress towards our aspirations of being a model employer, we also recognise the immense value that staff support networks can add to our workplace and our public policy. These networks provide direct support to their members through ongoing engagement, they provide insight on the lived experience of our people and run events to keep staff and line management aware of how to respond to differing needs.

As an internal resource our networks have been instrumental in understanding how we can better engage with our stakeholders and the communities we serve.

Our internal networks take on a critical role, keeping us focused on creating an inclusive and engaged department. Some of our staff support networks are:

The NETWORK - the Home Office race equality network

ABLE - the Home Office's disability network

Spectrum - for lesbian, gay, bi and transgender staff

a:gender - the cross-government network for transgender, transsexual and intersex staff

GEN - Gender Equality Network (formerly Home Office Women)

Christian Network

Hindu Connection

Home Office Islamic Network (HOIN)

Jewish Network (J-Net)

Sikh Association

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We incorporate equality into our core objectives, making every effort to eliminate discrimination, create equal opportunities and develop good working relationships between different people.

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This months topic on the Citizenship Calendar is "Diversity".

The aim is to increase your awareness of the terms Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, what they mean and why they are important.

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Acas - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - What are they?

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Acas - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - What are they?

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Lets start with looking at what Diversity actually means.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines Diversity as:

“The practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.”

The acas website (above) has a section explaining what Diversity means, along with Equality and Inclusion.

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What they are - Equality, diversity and inclusion

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How employers can improve equality, diversity and inclusion in their workplace and what the benefits are.

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Safer Internet Day 2026 - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Everyone's talking about AI, and with many children and young people hearing about and using AI online, it's important they have the skills and confidence to make safe choices when they are using smart technology.

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Each February, stakeholders across the globe join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, and especially children and young people. Will you join us?

Latest news

International Day of Tolerance

Since 1995, 16 November has been observed as the International Day of Tolerance (also referred to as Tolerance Day). On this day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) adopted its Declaration of Principles on Tolerance.

Luxembourgish Safer Internet Centre 14 November 2024

Monkey see monkey do: Don't believe everything on the net!

Awareness campaign on AI-generated disinformationIn the age of artificial intelligence (AI), digital disinformation is an increasing challenge, posing a threat to public trust. With this new campaign, BEE SECURE, the Safer Internet Centre of Luxembourg, aims to boost internet users' awareness of the risks of deepfakes and other types of AI-enabled disinformation.&nbsp;

Portuguese Safer Internet Centre 12 November 2024

Team Portugal at the European Cybersecurity Challenge 2024

The European Cybersecurity Challenge (ECSC) is an initiative by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) which aims to enhance cybersecurity talent across Europe and connect high potentials with industry leading organisations. In this event, national cybersecurity teams made up of 10 best talents, aged between 14 and 25, are challenged to solve problems related to computer security, in the form of Capture The Flag (CFT) competitions.

The next Safer Internet Day (SID) will take place in February 2025 with a theme of "Together for a better internet". A global day of focus will take place on Tuesday 11 February, with celebratory events taking place across the globe, throughout the whole month. Through this campaign, we call upon all stakeholders to join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, and especially children and young people.

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Each February, stakeholders across the globe join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, and especially children and young people. Will you join us? International Day of Tolerance Since 1995, 16 November has been observed as the International Day of Tolerance (also referred to as Tolerance Day).

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Social Media and Mental Health - youngminds.org

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Social Media and Mental Health - youngminds.org

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If you are worried about your child or teenager using the internet, this guide provides tips and advice for talking to your child about their use of social media and the internet.

Get advice and updates directly to your inbox

Join our fight for children and young people's mental health. Sign up to the YoungMinds mailing list to receive our monthly e-newsletter, campaign updates, information about events and fundraising and other opportunities to get involved in our work.

Sign up to emails

Guide Menu for Social media

The internet offers huge opportunities. From a young age, children have the chance to learn, research, play games, have fun and connect with family who may not live nearby. But it's important to help them to use the online world in a way that's safe and positive for their mental health.

That's why it's good to have regular conversations about the internet and social media from a young age - it should be as ordinary as talking about the weather, the dog, or something you've watched on TV.

You don't need to pry or quiz your child about every website they've seen, but checking in with them for a minute or two can make a huge difference.

Take a look at our tips below for having positive conversations with your child about social media.

Although most social media platforms are officially 13+, most children sign up to at least one when they're much younger. It's better that you encourage them to be open with you, rather than thinking they need to keep it a secret from you. And be aware that if they accept your follow/friend request on a social media account, it's very possible they have another one that they're not sharing with you.

Remind your child that every social media platform has privacy settings, and show them how to use them.

Talk to your child about the sort of information they want to keep private.

Make sure your child understands how to report or block things that aren't appropriate.

Help your child to understand that they shouldn't feel the need to be available all the time on social media. It's okay to take a break, and you don't need to take part in every conversation.

Setting realistic boundaries

The boundaries you set for internet use will depend on your child's age. It's like teaching your child to cross the road: you'll make sure they hold your hand when they're very young, but as they grow older you want them to assess the risks and stay safe more independently.

Whatever their age, it's a good idea to sit down together with your child to agree some rules about how much time they spend online. For example, you might want to agree that they shouldn't go online just before bed or use any devices at night, because this can affect their sleep. You can often set timers on devices to limit internet use - but try to help your child manage this for themselves as well.

You can also set up parental controls to stop your child from accessing harmful content online, but your child may well learn how to get round these. That's why it's important to make sure your child is able to make good decisions for themselves.

Talking to your child about gaming

It is worth checking the ratings on the games your child is playing. If your child wants to buy a game that looks like it's extremely violent or too old for them, then trust your judgement if you don't feel it's appropriate.

We have more information and advice to help you and your family create a healthy culture around gaming, and to help you support your child if they're struggling.

Cyberbullying

Bullying isn't okay, whether it happens at school, at home or on the internet. If your child is receiving nasty messages, or people are posting unwanted things about them, or they feel harassed, they should do something about it.

Encourage them to talk to you. Even if it seems like a small thing, it can really help to talk things through with you about what to do.

Make sure they understand how to block and report the people involved, and to use the privacy settings to limit what people can see on their profiles.

Help them understand that they are responsible for what they post. They should remember to think about what effect their posts might have on others, and that they probably shouldn't say anything online that they wouldn't say in person. That means not writing nasty things about people you know - but it also means not posting abuse to celebrities, who are real people too.

Spotting and acting on the warning signs

You know your child well, and may well recognise it if something is wrong. It's important to act on the warning signs. If you start to feel concerned:

Talk to your child openly.

Listen to what they have to say.

Don't rush to judgement.

Make sure they know you'll always be there for them.

Where to get further support

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

You might also find helpful...

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Social Media & Mental Health | Guide For Parents

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If you are worried about your child or teenager using the internet, read our guide and resources on talking to your child about their use of social media.

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As it’s the new year many people have goals which they want to achieve. Perhaps you have considered making a change and setting yourself a personal goal for 2026.

We have included some ideas to get you started:

Quitting smoking / drinking alcohol (e.g. Dry January)

Changing your diet (e.g. Veganuary)

Managing stress

Improving your physical health

Learning to save money

Mental health support

Personal goals, for example, learning to drive

Improving your skills / qualifications

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Instructions: Answer the questions in the document below to see how much you know about mental health, wellbeing and sustainability.

Answers are provided in the next section.

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Instructions: Answer the following questions to see how much you know about sustainability and how we can help our planet!

Answers are provided at the bottom of this section.

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This months Citizenship Calendar topic is Health and Wellbeing. It is also a month where we focus on sustainability, so these resources have been combined.

There are some short videos and other information about how sustainability and nature can improve your mental health and wellbeing.

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Below are 3 short videos which start to cover disability awareness.

It is hoped that once you have watched the videos, that you will have increased your understanding of different types of disability and how people with disabilities should be treated.

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Short video about understanding disabilities on the Oasis Mental Health Applications (USA) YouTube channel.

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Short 3 minute video on the Fixers UK YouTube channel.

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This month's topic on the Citizenship Calendar is Relationships.

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Below are some additional resources about climate change and sustainability.

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Below are links to additional videos about this topic.

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Environmental: Protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, reducing pollution, and conserving natural resources.

Economic: Creating systems that support long-term economic health while minimising negative environmental impacts.

Social: Ensuring equitable access to resources, promoting social justice, and fostering community well-being.

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Climate Change: Understanding how human activities contribute to climate change and its global effects.

Resource Depletion: Recognising the limits of natural resources and the necessity for responsible consumption.

Biodiversity Loss: Highlighting the importance of preserving diverse species and ecosystems for ecological balance.

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1. What does "sustainability" mean?

a) Using everything up quickly
b) Taking care of the Earth so future generations can enjoy it too
c) Only focusing on making money
d) Ignoring environmental issues

2. Which of the following is a key part of being sustainable?

a) Buying the newest gadgets every year
b) Reducing waste and recycling
c) Using as many plastic bags as possible
d) Eating fast food every day

3. What is one major cause of climate change?

a) Riding bicycles
b) Cutting down too many trees (deforestation)
c) Planting more flowers
d) Using solar panels

4. What can you do to help reduce waste?

a) Use single-use plastics
b) Always throw things away without thinking
c) Bring reusable bags when shopping
d) Buy more stuff you don’t need

5. What does "reduce, reuse, recycle" mean?

a) Use less, find new uses for things, and turn rubbish into new products
b) Buy more new items every time
c) Only recycle paper
d) Ignore waste completely

6. Which of these is a way to help the environment?

a) Keeping the lights on when you leave the room
b) Using public transport or cycling instead of driving
c) Throwing food waste in the regular bin
d) Using lots of water when brushing your teeth

7. What is a "green" activity?

a) Using energy-efficient light bulbs
b) Burning plastic
c) Leaving the tap running
d) Driving everywhere without thinking

8. How can planting trees help the Earth?

a) They take up space
b) They release carbon dioxide
c) They help clean the air and provide homes for animals
d) They attract more pollution

9. What is a "carbon footprint"?

a) A footprint left in the sand
b) The amount of greenhouse gases you create through your activities
c) A type of shoe
d) A printout of your social media

10.Why is it important to take care of our planet?

a) It’s the only home we have
b) It helps us have clean air and water
c) It ensures that future generations can enjoy nature
d) All of the above

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UK and the Sustainable Development Goals

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UK and the Sustainable Development Goals

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UK and the Sustainable Development Goals

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The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by 193 UN member states at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in 2015. It provides an ambitious, globally-agreed, shared blueprint for the world we want to see by 2030 and is centred around the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (also known as the Global Goals or SDGs).

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Practical Steps for Sustainable Living on Our Planet

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Practical Steps for Sustainable Living on Our Planet

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The relationship between sustainability and climate change is essential in protecting our planet. These resources will help you to think about reducing our impact on our planet, climate change, and promoting a healthier environment for us all.

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Veganuary has inspired and supported millions of people to try vegan since 2014 - with participants from almost every country in the world. We have worked with businesses to drive up vegan options in shops and restaurants, and have made veganism more visible and accessible through our work with national and international media.

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Veganuary - the international movement inspiring people to try vegan!

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Since 2014, Veganuary has inspired and supported more than 2.5 million people in 228 countries to try vegan for January - and beyond!

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Social Model of Disability | Disability charity Scope UK

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Social Model of Disability | Disability charity Scope UK

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Have you heard of the Social and Medical Model of Disability?

The social model of disability is a way of viewing the world, developed by disabled people.

The model says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference. Barriers can be physical, like buildings not having accessible toilets. Or they can be caused by people's attitudes to difference, like assuming disabled people can't do certain things.

The social model helps us recognise barriers that make life harder for disabled people. Removing these barriers creates equality and offers disabled people more independence, choice and control.

Not everyone uses the social model and that’s ok. How someone chooses to talk about their impairment is an individual choice.

The attached video is approx. 3 minutes long and explains this in more detail.

All text is taken from the Scope website.

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It means we can:

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It also means we can work more closely with partners in government, local councils and other public bodies, targeting support where it's needed most and offering a better range of services.

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Play

Social model of disability video transcript

'What is the social model of disability?'

Ossie Stuart (Disability consultant): I always felt being a disabled person was a problem. After learning about the social model, it challenged me to look at disability completely differently. I myself was able to gain some confidence and... self-esteem.

Ian Macrae (Editor, Disability Now): The social model basically says, we are people with impairments and those impairments clearly have an impact on how we live our lives. But the impairments are not the things which disable us.

Mik Scarlet (Broadcaster and journalist): I'm disabled by the world around me and if the world was more accessible, I would be less disabled and then I would just be left with my "impairment" i.e. what doesn't work.

It's not that my legs don't work that disabling me. It's the fact that if I'm on a flat surface, I can wheel around fine, I'm wonderfully happy. It's only when I come up to a flight of stairs.

Alice Maynard (Chair 2008-2014, Scope): As a wheelchair user, you have a slightly easier job of explaining the social model. Whereas if you're trying to explain the less physical barriers, it's much harder.

Laurence Clark (Comedian and writer): There are barriers everywhere in life. It's to do with how communicate, to do with people's attitudes...

Kiruna Stamell (Actress): Discovering the social model was a massive liberation on another level. Yeah I was being treated differently and no it wasn't me being deficient. It was everybody else's social anxieties being projected onto me.

Laurence: The blame for you not fitting in is no longer on your shoulders.

Ian: Suddenly my disability was out there and not in here. It was what made me realise that I was something beyond the thing that other people thought I was.

Mik: It's a really liberating thing, but it also means you can change it. We can say to the world, "Look, you must put a lift in this building. You must make sure that the signage is readable for people with visual impairments."

Kiruna: If you want that equality to be real, you've really got to tackle the inequality people are experiencing in schools, workplaces, transport.

Ian: The main reason that the social model, I think, is important to disabled people is that it allows us to be a community. You achieve a lot more as a group.

Mik: As long as we, as disabled people, make sure that our voices are heard and that all those people that support us also have their voices heard, then I think we will get there.

Alice: I hope that Scope is doing work that will help disabled people to become prouder of who we are. Pushing boundaries around who can be included and where.

Laurence: Come the glorious day if it ever came where all the barriers went, y'know. We'd just be people with impairments. We wouldn't be disabled people any more.

Find out more about Scope's work and how to get involved, subscribe to Scope on YouTube.

The social model of disability is a way of viewing the world, developed by disabled people. Scope's Everyday Equality strategy is based on this model of disability.

The model says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference. Barriers can be physical, like buildings not having accessible toilets. Or they can be caused by people's attitudes to difference, like assuming disabled people can't do certain things.

The social model helps us recognise barriers that make life harder for disabled people. Removing these barriers creates equality and offers disabled people more independence, choice and control.

Not everyone uses the social model and that's ok. How anyone chooses to talk about their impairment is up to them.

Explaining the social model of disability to kids.

Changing attitudes towards disabled people

Negative attitudes based on prejudice or stereotype can stop disabled people from having equal opportunities. This is sometimes referred to as disablism.

Examples of negative attitudes include assuming that disabled people can't:

work

live independently

have sex

have children

Medical model of disability

The medical model of disability says people are disabled by their impairments or differences.

The medical model looks at what is 'wrong' with the person, not what the person needs. We believe it creates low expectations and leads to people losing independence, choice and control in their lives.

Examples of the social model in action

You are a disabled person who can't use stairs and wants to get into a building with a step at the entrance. The social model recognises that this is a problem with the building, not the person, and would suggest adding a ramp to the entrance.

Your child with a visual impairment wants to read the latest best-selling book, so they can chat about it with their friends. The social model solution makes full-text recordings available when the book is published.

You are a teenager with a learning difficulty who wants to live independently in your own home, but you don't know how to pay the rent. The social model recognises that with the right support on how to pay your rent, you can live the life you choose. The medical model might assume that the barriers to independent living are insurmountable, and you might be expected to live in a care home.

Talk with disabled people about the social model and more in Scope's online community.

Learn about how Scope uses the social model to talk about disability.

Related content

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

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Social model of disability | Disability charity Scope UK

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The social model of disability is a way of viewing the world which says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference.

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Award winning short animated film (approx. 10 minutes) about inclusion, produced by Fundacion.

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**Award Winning** CGI Animated Short Film: "Ian" by Fundacion Ian | CGMeetup

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Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and Mental Health

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Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and Mental Health

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If you’re from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background, you may face specific issues relating to your mental health.

This section has links and websites which explore this in more detail.

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The websites below explain the origins, history and importance of Black History Month.

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October marks Black History Month in the UK.

The event began in the US in the 1920s, and was first celebrated in the UK in 1987.

It also takes place in Canada, Germany and Ireland.

When is Black History Month and what is it?

In the UK, Black History Month happens every October.

It gives everyone the opportunity to share, celebrate and understand the impact of black heritage and culture.

People from African and Caribbean backgrounds have been a fundamental part of British history for centuries. However, campaigners believe their contribution to society has often been overlooked or distorted.

How did Black History Month start?

The event was the brainchild of Carter G Woodson, known as the father of black history.

Born in Virginia in 1875 to parents who were former slaves, he had limited access to education and job opportunities. But he was able to study at one of the few high schools for black students after saving money earned by working as a coal miner.

Woodson went on to gain various qualifications, including a PhD in history from Harvard University, and became a professor at Howard University.

Throughout his life, he worked tirelessly to promote black history in schools.

In 1926 he launched the first Black History Week, set in February to coincide with the births of former President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Both men played a significant role in helping to end slavery.

The event was expanded in 1970, and since 1976 every US president has officially designated February as Black History Month.

A separate holiday - "Juneteenth", held on 19 June - commemorates the end of slavery in the US.

How did Black History Month start in the UK?

The first Black History Month in the UK took place in 1987, the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean.

It was arranged by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, who came to the UK from Ghana as a refugee in 1984. Like Woodson before him, he wanted to challenge racism and celebrate the history of black people.

October was chosen partly because it's traditionally a time when African leaders gather to talk about important issues, and partly because it was at the start of the school year.

How is Black History Month celebrated in the UK?

When Black History Month first began, there was a big focus on black American history. Over time the event has prioritised black British history and key black figures from the UK, such as:

Walter Tull, the first black officer to command white troops in the British Army, and one of English football's first black players

Malorie Blackman, bestselling author and the first black Children's Laureate

Shirley J Thompson, leading composer and conductor

Lewis Hamilton, the only black driver in Formula One

Black History Month is also celebrated in local communities, where museums, care homes and workplaces explore a broad range of topics, from Britain's colonial past to migration and music.

For 2023, people are being encouraged to find out more about the exceptional achievements of black women, especially those who have been forgotten.

There is a national poetry competition, open to primary, secondary, college, and university students across the UK.

The contribution of the Windrush generation is also being celebrated, 75 years after the arrival of passengers on HMT Empire Windrush to the UK.

Is black history taught in schools?

For many children in the UK, October is the only time of the year they will learn about black history.

Wales became the first nation in the UK to introduce mandatory changes to its curriculum in 2022, including lessons about black history, racism and contributions of figures from black, Asian and other ethnic minorities.

Education is a devolved issue and in England there are no such plans to make changes.

The UK government says black history is an important topic, and that schools have the freedom to teach it within the existing history curriculum, from primary-school age onwards.

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Black History Month: What is it and why does it matter?

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First proposed in the US in the 1920s, the event was first celebrated in the UK in 1987.

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The official website for Dry January: one month alcohol-free.