Speakeasy supports positive, accurate communication between families and children around all aspects of growing up, relationships & sexual health through our work with parents and carers.

In Autumn 2025, we will be offering a menu of sessions to help parents and carers explore lots of different topics:

• Puberty & Bodies
• What Children Need To Know
• Answering Difficult Questions
• Useful Resources
• Keeping Children Safe
• Off & Online
• The Role Of The School
• The Adolescent Brain & Risk
• Pornography, Sex & Technology

Following the initial pilot of Planet Youth in Highland from 2021-2024, we are now expanding across Highland.

At the start of 2025 we began to contact secondary schools across Highland to have conversations with them about the benefits of becoming a Planet Youth Partner School. Initially we had planned to add on 5 new schools for the next 2 year cycle, however we had 8 schools contact us and ask to become involved and we are delighted to now have 13 Planet Youth Partner Schools across Highland.

Over the next few months we will be contacting the primary schools within the associated schools groups around these new partner schools to start to build relationships as our focus is on early intervention and prevention. If you run a Parent Council for one of these schools or for one of their feeder primaries, we would love to hear from you.

The 13 Planet Youth Partner Schools are:

• Tain royal academy
• Golspie high school
• Dornoch academy
• Thurso high school
• Wick high school
• Lochaber high school
• Plockton high school
• Invergordon academy
• Alness academy
• Dingwall academy
• Inverness high school
• Culloden academy
• Nairn academy

There is a lot of media coverage around at the moment about social media and it's potential effect on children and adolescents.

As with everything, there are pros and cons to the online world and the responsibility for managing what young people can access online via the various apps, websites and networks falls on parents, carers and adults.

Aye Mind explains: "When we think about children and young people going online, often one of our main concerns is making sure that they are safe and have a positive experience. We know there is a range of online harms that they might come across, from bullying, online pornography, sexual exploitation and abuse, to content promoting self-harm or eating disorders."

It is a good idea to set parental controls and Internet Matters has useful privacy guides:

• Social Media parental controls & privacy settings
• Online safety guides : Online safety leaflets & resources

From Internet matters: 5 tips to consider when using screen time tools

Here’s what you need to know about using screen time tools effectively, along with a quick summary of the options available to you.

1. Understand your child’s needs: Not all children use screens in the same way. Discuss their online habits and the purpose of their screen time—be it educational, social, or for entertainment.
2. Set realistic limits: Gradually introduce boundaries that align with your child’s age and your family’s routine. Overly strict limits can lead to resistance, while clear expectations encourage healthy habits.
3. Model balanced behaviour: Children often mimic adults. Set a positive example by balancing your own screen use and prioritising offline time.
4. Combine tools with conversations: Technology isn’t a substitute for communication. Regularly talk to your child about why limits are important and how they can manage their own screen time as they grow.
5. Review and adapt regularly: As your child grows, their online needs and habits will evolve. Adjust settings and rules to reflect their age and digital maturity.

Further advice and information on how to stay safe online

• Parents and carers - CEOP Education
• Resources for parents - Smartphone Free Childhood
• What is social media? - NSPCC
• 11 Online Safety Resources – Aye Mind
• Professionals Online Safety Helpline - UK Safer Internet Centre
• Online safety leaflets & resources - Internet Matters
• Safeguarding Children - Get Safe Online
• Taking control of your online safety - Childline

From Charlene Hercher of the East Sutherland Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service:

Alcohol and drugs are being increasingly used by young people throughout Sutherland and the rest of Highland, trends reported currently are:

• Alcohol in the form of dragon soop, flavoured ciders, and alcopops.
• Drugs in the form of cannabis (grass, green, bud), cocaine (charlie, ching, snow, marching powder) ) and Ketamine (Ket, baby food).
• Confirmed drugs circulating Highland - illicit benzodiazepines and other sedating drugs that contain synthetic opioids.

See following links for further information and support options.

Please download the HOPE app on your phone.

• Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership
• Crew - Drugs information
• Confidential advice from FRANK
• Highland Substance Awareness Toolkit – Information source on the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes
• Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs - A Parent's Guide