Latest news with #Bedford
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Every child will have contact with a stranger online'
Sophie was just 17 when she was contacted online by someone she believed to be a boy of her own age. Having just split from her boyfriend, Sophie - not her real name - admits she was feeling low and lacking self-confidence, so welcomed his attention. "He told me I was pretty and we chatted on and off for about a month or so on various social media platforms," she says. He asked her to send him some pictures, which she did. "I didn't think much of it," she says. He then told her she could make money from the pictures, and asked for more, including sexually explicit shots. "So I began sending him pictures of what he asked for. Before too long, it was videos and I was in way too deep," she says. Sophie realised something was amiss when people began to contact her to say they had seen the videos. The "boy" asked her for more photos and video, this time of her with others, and she never received any money. "I felt like I was in a mess and it was all too much," she says. Sophie is one of hundreds of people who have been helped by Bedford-based charity Link to Change. It offers help, support and guidance to young people aged from seven to 26 in four areas of exploitation: sexual, criminal, online and financial. Operating for 20 years, its clients are referred by organisations including police and schools, as well as parents. "At some point, every child will have contact with a stranger online," warns Hayley Brown, its chief executive. "Find me a young person that doesn't have a phone or a tablet, and if a young person has a phone or tablet, there is a way and means they can be contacted," she says. What is crucial, she adds, are the decisions made after that contact. "It's about being able to have those conversations with young people and make them aware of what's happening." "There needs to be more around what we are doing in society," says Ms Brown. "We can blame the social media companies; however, what we have is a generational gap, around young people, technology that they are using and parents' knowledge and understanding around that." Parents, she says, have a "fine line" to negotiate as young people's critical thinking will not be fully developed. "What they think might be a wise decision might not be a wise decision," she warns. Everyone, she says, needs to be aware of grooming "as it's a natural process" that builds trust. The groomer could be an older male, she says, but "could be their best friend, someone in their class, someone the same age as them". As the mother of a 13-year-old herself, she says: "There's an element of needing to trust my child but also being able to know and monitor what they are doing. "So many young people are scared to report something that's happened to them as they're scared of the trouble they'll get in. It's not the young person's fault. "They're not asked to be groomed. In society, we put the blame on children, but this is abuse; this child has been abused." If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line. Demand for the charity's services are up: its referrals have increased by 233% in four years. "We are at a point where our waiting list is so high, we're having a battle with our capacity," Ms Brown says. But she says it is worth it, because the charity has a 98% success rate in helping people exit exploitation. "We will not close a young person's case until all aspects of their life are on track," she says. While it is still unclear who Sophie's groomer was, she says the support she received "helped change my life". "They helped me to understand what had happened to me - it wasn't my fault," she says. "I had one-to-one support for about eight months in total. "They helped not only with the exploitation, but to be able to build my confidence and self-esteem and my mental health struggles." James Simmonds-Read, national programme manager for The Children's Society, says online spaces can be "hugely positive" for young people. They can be places to learn, to connect and have fun, but can also be used by abusers to "exploit and groom". "That's why it is so important for adults to build open, trusting relationships where children can tell them anything without fear of judgement while also staying alert to signs of potential harm, and speaking up if something doesn't feel right," he says. "Children won't always realise they're being groomed - that's why adults need to stay switched on to the signs." These can include: Sudden changes in behaviour, particularly after time online Mentioning or meeting new friends they met on gaming or social apps Talking about offers of making "easy money" Being secretive or withdrawn about online activities He advises anyone with concerns to report them to the police and to contact the platform where any incidents of grooming, exploitation, or abuse are taking place. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'I was groomed and exploited at parties aged 14' Child sex abuse survivors demand ring-fenced funding New exploitation hub builds 'team around a child' Bedfordshire Violence and Exploitation Reduction The Children's Society Link To Change
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
'Every child will have contact with a stranger online'
Sophie was just 17 when she was contacted online by someone she believed to be a boy of her own age. Having just split from her boyfriend, Sophie - not her real name - admits she was feeling low and lacking self-confidence, so welcomed his attention."He told me I was pretty and we chatted on and off for about a month or so on various social media platforms," she asked her to send him some pictures, which she did. "I didn't think much of it," she then told her she could make money from the pictures, and asked for more, including sexually explicit shots."So I began sending him pictures of what he asked for. Before too long, it was videos and I was in way too deep," she realised something was amiss when people began to contact her to say they had seen the "boy" asked her for more photos and video, this time of her with others, and she never received any money."I felt like I was in a mess and it was all too much," she says. Sophie is one of hundreds of people who have been helped by Bedford-based charity Link to offers help, support and guidance to young people aged from seven to 26 in four areas of exploitation: sexual, criminal, online and for 20 years, its clients are referred by organisations including police and schools, as well as parents. "At some point, every child will have contact with a stranger online," warns Hayley Brown, its chief executive."Find me a young person that doesn't have a phone or a tablet, and if a young person has a phone or tablet, there is a way and means they can be contacted," she is crucial, she adds, are the decisions made after that contact."It's about being able to have those conversations with young people and make them aware of what's happening." "There needs to be more around what we are doing in society," says Ms Brown."We can blame the social media companies; however, what we have is a generational gap, around young people, technology that they are using and parents' knowledge and understanding around that."Parents, she says, have a "fine line" to negotiate as young people's critical thinking will not be fully developed."What they think might be a wise decision might not be a wise decision," she warns. Everyone, she says, needs to be aware of grooming "as it's a natural process" that builds groomer could be an older male, she says, but "could be their best friend, someone in their class, someone the same age as them". As the mother of a 13-year-old herself, she says: "There's an element of needing to trust my child but also being able to know and monitor what they are doing."So many young people are scared to report something that's happened to them as they're scared of the trouble they'll get in. It's not the young person's fault."They're not asked to be groomed. In society, we put the blame on children, but this is abuse; this child has been abused." If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line. Demand for the charity's services are up: its referrals have increased by 233% in four years."We are at a point where our waiting list is so high, we're having a battle with our capacity," Ms Brown she says it is worth it, because the charity has a 98% success rate in helping people exit exploitation. "We will not close a young person's case until all aspects of their life are on track," she says. While it is still unclear who Sophie's groomer was, she says the support she received "helped change my life". "They helped me to understand what had happened to me - it wasn't my fault," she says."I had one-to-one support for about eight months in total. "They helped not only with the exploitation, but to be able to build my confidence and self-esteem and my mental health struggles." James Simmonds-Read, national programme manager for The Children's Society, says online spaces can be "hugely positive" for young can be places to learn, to connect and have fun, but can also be used by abusers to "exploit and groom"."That's why it is so important for adults to build open, trusting relationships where children can tell them anything without fear of judgement while also staying alert to signs of potential harm, and speaking up if something doesn't feel right," he says."Children won't always realise they're being groomed - that's why adults need to stay switched on to the signs."These can include:Sudden changes in behaviour, particularly after time onlineMentioning or meeting new friends they met on gaming or social appsTalking about offers of making "easy money"Being secretive or withdrawn about online activitiesHe advises anyone with concerns to report them to the police and to contact the platform where any incidents of grooming, exploitation, or abuse are taking place. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Driver ‘seriously' hurt after high-speed chase ends in fiery NH crash, police say
A man was 'seriously injured' after being involved in a police pursuit, where he drove over 140 miles per hour, according to a New Hampshire State Police statement. The incident happened at around 1:30 a.m. on Friday when a state trooper was driving southbound on the F.E. Everett Turnpike in Bedford and noticed a 2018 Infiniti Q50 pass him at over 140 miles per hour, and refused to stop. A pursuit began and the driver continued southbound on the turnpike until he drove off the right side of the road and crashed, state police said. The driver was trapped inside the car as it caught fire. State police quickly responded, using fire extinguishers to control the blaze while attempting to get the driver out. Merrimack, New Hampshire Fire Rescue personnel managed to put out the flames completely and free the driver from the heavily damaged vehicle. The driver was taken by medical helicopter to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston with serious injuries. Longtime Market Basket execs say they expect to be sacked amid company's turmoil Newest travel warning says Americans have been kidnapped, ransomed in this country Mass. State Lottery winners: 3 tickets worth $100K won, claimed on Friday 'He was a creative force': Lead singer of '60s psychedelic rock legends dead at 82 Greenfield man sentenced for alcohol theft, knife threat to store owner, DA says Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New £3.4m GP surgery to be built on old school site
A new £3.4m GP surgery is set to be built on the site of a former school. Bedford Borough Council approved the new facility in the village of Great Barford, close to Bedford. It said it plans to knock down the Great Barford Lower School building, on Silver Street, opposite the existing surgery and build a new larger practice with a car park. The council will provide £1.9m with the rest set to come from the developers building 500 homes as part of the Millfield End scheme. The council will also provide £470,000 to help cover the costs of the planning permission application, demolition of the existing building, and associated pre-demolition work, it added. Conservative councillor Martin Towler, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and communities: health and wellbeing, said: "We're committed to ensuring that all our residents have access to high-quality health facilities, regardless of their age, sex, background, or whether they live in our towns or villages. "I know that the people of Great Barford will welcome this step forward, and that it will be a huge positive for future residents too." A final decision lies with the Integrated Care Board, following engagement with patients, and the GP practice signing a lease agreement, the council added. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Town told to wait 10 more years for GP surgery Patients facing uphill struggle to see GPs - report Bedfordshire health board halts plans for new GP and care hubs Bedford Borough Council
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
New £3.4m GP surgery in Great Barford to be built on old school site
A new £3.4m GP surgery is set to be built on the site of a former Borough Council approved the new facility in the village of Great Barford, close to Bedford. It said it plans to knock down the Great Barford Lower School building, on Silver Street, opposite the existing surgery and build a new larger practice with a car park. The council will provide £1.9m with the rest set to come from the developers building 500 homes as part of the Millfield End scheme. The council will also provide £470,000 to help cover the costs of the planning permission application, demolition of the existing building, and associated pre-demolition work, it added. Conservative councillor Martin Towler, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and communities: health and wellbeing, said: "We're committed to ensuring that all our residents have access to high-quality health facilities, regardless of their age, sex, background, or whether they live in our towns or villages."I know that the people of Great Barford will welcome this step forward, and that it will be a huge positive for future residents too."A final decision lies with the Integrated Care Board, following engagement with patients, and the GP practice signing a lease agreement, the council added. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
