STAND: Parents as Protectors
Building knowledge, confidence and awareness to help safeguard children.
STAND is a free, trauma-informed safeguarding education programme developed through lived experience insight and a commitment to protecting children.
Designed for parents, carers, guardians and other adults who have a role in children's lives, STAND offers practical learning to strengthen awareness, recognise possible safeguarding concerns and respond appropriately.
Register for STAND — FreeDelivered through Google Classroom.
Every child deserves to feel safe, heard and protected. Safeguarding is a responsibility we share.
Knowledge Helps Us Protect
Protecting children is one of the most important responsibilities we share.
Yet recognising a safeguarding concern is not always straightforward. Grooming, manipulation, exploitation and abuse can involve subtle patterns that are difficult to identify without appropriate information and understanding.
STAND helps participants explore how harmful behaviour can develop, what concerns to be aware of and how adults can respond.
The programme is grounded in the understanding that awareness, communication and appropriate action are essential parts of prevention.
Recognising Concerns
Develop awareness of potential grooming behaviours, manipulation, boundary violations and other safeguarding warning signs.
Trauma-Informed Insight
Explore how lived experiences, stress and learned responses can influence our perceptions, confidence and decisions.
Creating Safer Conversations
Consider how listening, emotional safety and age-appropriate conversations can support children in seeking help.
Knowing When to Act
Strengthen understanding of safeguarding boundaries, appropriate responses and the importance of reporting concerns.
Understanding Without Blame
Our previous experiences can shape how we interpret situations, respond to uncertainty and understand our own instincts.
For some people, experiences of trauma may contribute to self-doubt or uncertainty when faced with difficult circumstances.
Others may draw upon lived experience as a source of insight, vigilance and understanding.
STAND does not assume that someone who has experienced trauma is less capable of protecting a child.
Instead, we encourage informed reflection, confidence in seeking advice and a clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities.
Safeguarding is never about blaming children or holding protective adults responsible for another person's abusive choices. Responsibility for abuse lies with the person who causes harm.
A Free, Flexible Learning Programme
STAND is free to attend and delivered through Google Classroom, allowing participants to engage with recorded learning at their own pace.
The programme combines six pre-recorded sessions with two live sessions.
Learning explores safeguarding awareness, grooming prevention, emotional responses, resilience and practical ways to support children's safety.
Information about live session arrangements is provided through the programme.
How STAND Works
Complete the programme registration process to begin your learning.
Work through six pre-recorded learning sessions through Google Classroom.
Take part in the two live sessions, subject to the arrangements provided for your intake.
The programme is intended to encourage reflection and practical awareness. Participants can take the time they need to consider the learning and how it relates to their circumstances.
Safeguarding Is Everyone's Responsibility
STAND is relevant to parents and guardians, but safeguarding knowledge can also benefit the many adults who support, supervise or interact with children.
Families & Carers
- Parents and guardians.
- Grandparents.
- Foster carers.
- Step-parents.
- Godparents.
- Extended family members.
- Family friends.
Professionals & Communities
- Teachers and educators.
- Sports coaches.
- Youth workers and mentors.
- Scouts, Guides and youth leaders.
- Support workers and carers.
- Community leaders.
- School transport staff.
- Other adults involved in children's lives.
The programme offers safeguarding education and awareness. It does not replace statutory safeguarding training, professional procedures or mandatory reporting responsibilities applicable to particular roles.
In Collaboration with Safeguarding Fundamentals
STAND is delivered in collaboration with Safeguarding Fundamentals, bringing together safeguarding expertise and lived experience-informed education.
This collaboration supports a shared commitment to improving awareness, recognising early concerns and strengthening adults' capacity to respond appropriately.
Safeguarding & Trauma-Informed Parenting
Participants who would like to explore the wider context of trauma-informed parenting and safeguarding may find the following resources helpful.
Supporting Trauma-Experienced Parents
Research in Practice provides information about working with parents who have experienced trauma.
Explore the Research in Practice resourceTrauma-Informed Parenting
Further information and resources for parents, carers and professionals.
Visit Trauma-Informed ParentingResearch on Trauma-Informed Parenting Programmes
An academic publication in Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review examining trauma-informed parenting programmes.
Read the research publicationThese resources are provided for further reading and do not constitute independent evaluation of the STAND programme.
When a Child May Be at Risk
STAND is an educational programme, not an emergency response or child protection reporting service.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
For non-emergency safeguarding concerns, contact the appropriate local authority children's services, Police Scotland or a relevant safeguarding professional.
You do not need to investigate an allegation yourself before seeking advice or reporting a concern.
Take a STAND for Children's Safety
Awareness can strengthen protection, and learning is a meaningful place to begin.
If you are a parent, carer, guardian or someone who plays a role in children's lives, you are welcome to explore STAND.
The programme is free to attend.
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