A FORMER headteacher of Bude junior school, who has dedicated his life to children, teaching thousands of primary school pupils how to recognise the signs of abuse, has spoken about his work with the NSPCC.

Peter Frost has worked tirelessly, delivering the Speak Out Stay Safe programme for the children’s charity for the last six years, empowering more than 50,000 children to know about the different types of abuse. He has delivered the sessions throughout Cornwall, Plymouth and the Channel Islands.

The assemblies and workshops teach children how to spot the signs of abuse and to identify a trusted adult to speak to, should they have a concern or worry. Through an interactive song they learn the Childline number, which is free for children to call at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year.

Peter’s faithful companion at every assembly has been Buddy, a giant green speech bubble, and the Childline mascot, that helps engage children in an age-appropriate way about abuse.

Peter, who lives near Newquay said: “I think Buddy is an absolutely fabulous way of promoting the service. When I get out of the car and walk to the school, he raises a smile and promotes questions and I can tell them about Buddy, the children we are helping and Childline.”

The keen sportsman started with the NSPCC’s Schools Service in 2014, following a long and successful teaching career. Qualifying as a teacher in 1983, Peter worked at a number of schools around the South West of England before taking on his first headship at the age of 32 at Trevisker Primary School in St Eval, Cornwall. He went on to become a headteacher at Tywardreath and Bude junior schools.

He said: “Children have always been at the core and heart of my thinking. I want them to have opportunities in life and a wide, rich experience. I’ve been very fortunate with my family upbringing — my parents were very gifted at letting us be independent. They trusted me and made me feel safe, and I’d like other children to have that. I want children to know the right ways of being looked after.”

Peter’s interest in child protection and safeguarding developed throughout his teaching career and it was during this time that he was approached to join the NSPCC fundraising committee in Cornwall by the grandmother of one of his pupils at the time. He went on to volunteer as the chair of East and West Cornwall fundraising branches and has given up many hours of his own time fulfilling the roles.

It was not too long after this that Peter applied for the role within the NSPCC’s Schools Service. Since then he has delivered assemblies and workshops to tens of thousands of children teaching them about neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse.

He said: “Abuse is a really adult subject. It can be scary, but we are honest with children — it’s about keeping them safe and we tell them that using language appropriate for their age groups

“The programme unpicks in the right language that some children might not be looked after as well as they could be.

“We talk about neglect and we talk about other kinds of abuse and it gives all children the knowledge of what to do if they are worried about something. It gives them an answer out, but also enables teachers to realise that something might not be quite right at home.

“It’s important they see the children taking in the information and see how they react. The children listen to the information, consume it and store it away so that they have the key to unlock it one day should they need it.”

Peter has visited thousands of children each year, helping children who may face different challenges to know what they may be experiencing might not be okay.

He said: “You might think that sitting in a hall with 150 other children is the most obvious place not to disclose or speak out about something that’s happening to you, but children, when they are absorbed by the material and are engaged with the presenter, can feel comfortable to talk about what’s happening to them for the first time.”

As well as Buddy, Peter has been supported by a team of volunteers who help deliver the sessions, and something he himself will do following his retirement in October.

He said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working alongside volunteers who have helped me deliver the programme. They choose to give up their time to help with Speak Out Stay Safe and keep children safe from abuse.

“They’re knowledgeable, they’re committed, they’ve got a good sense of humour, they’re willing to learn and they have an awful lot of respect for the service.”

His NSPCC colleague Colette Hudson said: “Peter has a fantastic ability to present a challenging message in a child centred approach. He has worked across a large rural geographical area and travelled to Guernsey and Jersey doing his best to promote the important values the NSPCC stand for to help children to Speak Out and Stay Safe. We will miss him very much and would like to wish him well in his new chapter.”

Peter, who has delivered many safeguarding courses to sports organisations in his spare time, said: “There is a sense of excitement about what is around the corner. I’ll be out there doing things, kayaking, cycling, travelling. Inwardly I still feel very young, I have my physical health and so I want to continue volunteering with the NSPCC through delivering Speak Out Stay Safe. It’s important to me and if I can deliver to children a bit longer then I will.”

As a long-standing and committed fundraising volunteer, Peter will also continue his volunteer fundraising activities, for which he was recognised last year.

Peter was thanked by the NSPCC for his commitment to the charity and received a Childhood Champion award, which recognises the most dedicated volunteers.

Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering for the NSPCC’s Schools Service can email Colette Hudson on [email protected]