Former University of Bangor lecturer encourages others to help keep children safe from abuse and neglect

A former headmaster and University of Bangor lecturer has returned to the classroom to teach children about how to stay safe from abuse.

Meic Griffith, from Bryn Adda in Bangor, has been volunteering for the NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe schools service for three years and is calling on others to do the same as the charity’s Prestatyn base holds a volunteer information day this weekend.

The NSPCC is actively seeking volunteer counsellors for Childline, for its school services and also for more fundraisers in the area.

The event, which takes place between 11am and 2pm on Saturday, September 23, will enable members of the public from across the region to meet current volunteers and find out more from NSPCC staff.

Meic, having had a career in the education system, decided to put his acquired skills to good use and has volunteered in Gwynedd, Conwy and Anglesey.

He is now urging people from across North Wales, particularly Welsh speakers, to make the most of their spare time and volunteer for the NSPCC.

Across Wales in 2016/17 the NSPCC has spoken to 58,056 children and visited 491 schools to deliver its Schools Service programme, teaching children how to keep themselves safe.

In the areas Meic has covered, the charity has carried out assemblies with 3,582 children in Gwynedd, 2,689 children in Conwy and 1,905 children in Anglesey.

Linking directly to the curriculum, Speak Out Stay Safe helps children to:

•        Understand abuse in all its forms and recognise the signs that it’s happening

•        Learn how to protect themselves from all forms of abuse

•        Recognise both how to get help and the sources of help available to them, including Childline.

Meic, 67,who was previously a headmaster at Llangybi Primary School in Gwynedd, said: “Having worked with children over the years, I thought it was very important that someone with my kind of experience should take part.

“It was when I retired from Bangor University that I made the decision to take part in the extremely important work that the NSPCC does.

“I’ve had a long and varied teaching career and during that period appreciated the work that the NSPCC does informing and educating children about abuse and what was right and what was wrong

“It’s great for me that I get to continue to educate the children and often get to see former colleagues of mine, but the most satisfying part of the whole experience is that I get to go home knowing that I have done something worthwhile and valuable.”

Meic, a former lecturer in physical education at Bangor University, added: “I would encourage anyone to start volunteering. If you’re interested I would suggest you make yourself familiar with some of the material and give it a try.”

The NSPCC is also seeking more volunteers to help deliver the assemblies. Full specialised training is provided and more information is available on the NSPCC’s website: www.nspcc.org.uk/services-and-resources/working-with-schools/speak-out-stay-safe-service/