Dedicated to the true art of Shotokan Karate-Do

Est: 1999

The Maidstone Shotokan Karate Clubs abide by the Child Protection policy as laid down by the C.M.A.A. This can be viewed by clicking on the C.M.A.A logo (Above, Right) and selecting child protection from the drop down menu.

The M.S.K.C has a (Zero Tolerance towards Bullying Policy) and do not tolorate any form of bullying from our members inside or outside of our Dojo’s. If you have been bullied and would like to talk in confidence, then please contact Sensei or Tracy on 01622 676297 or email themskc@tiscali.co.uk Sensei has helped many students overcome bullying by communicating with both parents and teachers. It is important that you talk to someone and if you do not wish to talk to us, then please find a list of people that you can talk to below.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Know-one should harm you in any way. You have rights, including a right to:

· Say what you think, be listened to and taken seriously in all matters that affect you.

· Have an education.

· Grow up healthy.

· A good enough standard of living including a place to live, food and clothing.

· Not be discriminated against.

· Have your cultural background and identity valued.

· Have your best interests put first when decisions are made about you.

· Be protected from harm, abuse and violence.

Adults and organizations that work with young children should promote these rights. No-one should harm you in any way, and if you are hurt then adults must do something about it. In England and Wales there is a law called the Children Act, and in Northern Ireland there is the Children Order, which says that some professionals have a responsibility for your safety. This includes social services, the police and teachers.

What is Abuse?

Not everyone knows what abuse is. Most people talk about physical and sexual abuse. Actually, there are four kinds of abuse - as well as physical and sexual abuse there’s emotional abuse and neglect. So, things can be a bit more complicated than they first seem. Young people can be hurt by an adult or another young person in many ways. Abuse can be any of the following.

• · Physical - This includes being kicked, beaten or punched.
• · Emotional - This includes constant name-calling, being threatened, being made fun of or made to feel small, and often seeing violence between the people who care for you.
• · Sexual - This includes being touched in a way that you do not like, being forced to have sex, made to look at sexual images, or anything else that makes you feel uncomfortable.
• · Neglect - When you do not have somewhere to stay, enough food to eat, clothes to keep you warm, or if you are not looked after properly.
• · BULLYING AND DISCRIMINATION - Whether by adults or by another young person, abuse can hurt you emotionally and physically. Bullying includes hitting, taking a person’s things, name-calling and racist bullying. Discriminating and picking on someone because they are different is not ecceptable. You should not suffer in silence or have to deal with these problems on your own. Many students have spoken to Sensei regarding bullying at school and Sensei has often managed to help just by communicating with the schools and parents. Sensei will do everything in his power to help his stduents combat bullying. Do not bottle it up inside, but talk to someone.
• · HOW DOES ABUSE MAKE YOU FEEL? - Abuse creates all sorts of feelings and emotions including feeling frightened, alone, confused, angry, unloved, guilty, ashamed or unimportant. Abuse can be very confusing if someone you look up to is the person hurting you. Also, you might like the attention given to you by the person abusing you.. That is ok - it doesn’t mean it’s your fault or that anyone will blame you for it happening.

• · YOU ARE NOT ALONE - Whatever your worries, you do not have to keep it to yourself. You might feel that there is no way out of your problems when you are unhappy or scared. If you’re being abused, you might be pressured not to tell anyone. But there are people you can turn to who can help. Talking to someone about what’s happening in your life can help you understand the choices you have and help you find a solution. If you or someone you know is being abused, telling someone and getting help can stop the abuse happening. THIS IS THE FIRST AND MOST DIFFICULT STEP. It can be hard to find the words to talk about your problems. Writing down your feelings can help you see a solution. It can help you feel more confident about telling someone you know and trust, or about contacting one of the many groups and services that are there to help.

• · WHO CAN HELP? - There is someone to turn to. You might want to talk to someone you know and trust. This could be:

• · A close friend.
• · A parent, carer or someone else in your family.
• · A teacher or school counsellor - some schools also have peer-support schemes.
• · Your Doctor.
• · A school nurse.
• · A youth worker.
• · A social worker.
• · A neighbour.
• · A best friend’s older brother or sister, or their mum or dad.
• · Tracy & Sensei