Just five minutes.

2024-10-17T09:52:19+00:00Articles, News|

Just five minutes into day 1 of PAUSE, and we are witnessing special moments in the lives of young people. Our 'Letting Go' zone has connected with young people powerfully this year.  Letting Go: 'Take a stone. Bring to mind something that is weighing you down. Hold it in your hand for a moment, and then - let it go.' A volunteer explains: 'Almost immediately there was a young person obviously upset. I was able to chat with them quietly and share the moment. Watching them let go of something that had evidently been a cause for distress was powerful. I was in tears too.' A teacher shares: 'I cried the first time I walked into PAUSE. I tell the young people there's no shame in [...]

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and breathe…

2024-10-17T09:52:19+00:00Articles, News|

Over 10 volunteers and 30 man and woman hours this week have transformed this classroom. PAUSE is peace, time out, a much needed opportunity for reflection. 'A lie-in for my mind during school time,' as one yr 8 pupil so beautifully put it today.    Hardworking volunteers, all of you, you know who you are. Thank you. As you take a breather after your amazing transformation, you should know that your efforts are providing young people with a chance to breathe and take stock of their lives. We're hearing meaningful comments from young people themselves, and their teachers, about the importance of this time.  

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it’s an obsession

2016-02-23T17:08:28+00:00Articles, News|

Does it disturb you that a simple shopping trip exposes children to a stream of images promoting sexual availability? Or that, searching ‘kitten’ or ‘toy’ online, they risk stumbling upon violent porn? Does it bother you that 12 year old romance is  reduced to an exchange of naked pictures? Sex is everywhere; on billboards, in films, on TV, in fashion stores and in the music that streams out of them.  In our culture: Eight year olds sing on the trampoline, 'We can dance all night. Get me bodied. That means come closer to me, while we grind to the beat, and your body's touching my body.' You try to buy a pair of shorts for your 12 year old daughter.  [...]

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