On the 6th of May, I will be running dressed as the Pantosaurus around Newcastle to raise money for the NSPCC. This will mark the end of my current time at the NSPCC as I move on to working in New Zealand. So, what better way to say a temporary goodbye to the toon than by seeing the sights in a giant, sweaty dinosaur costume!

I have been working for the NSPCC for over two years and have seen first-hand the remarkable work this charity does to support children and families who have sadly experienced sexual harm. 

Studies suggest that 1 in 20 children in the UK experience sexual harm. One way that we work to prevent and stop this is through teaching children helpful language and giving them the right messages about their bodies, sex and relationships. 

To do this, we need to talk PANTS!

Starting conversations with children about these important topics can be daunting but is so important to do. The NSPCC have developed the Pantosaurus to help make this easier. The Pantosaurus is a giant singing dinosaur who helps children understand that their body belongs to them, and that they should tell someone they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried. 

As well as being an amazing tool to help adults talk to children, it's also one of my favourite songs of all time! Take a listen and see why - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lL07JOGU5o

I hope by doing this run I can raise some awareness for the Pantosaurus and maybe a little money for the NSPCC to carry on their great work.

If you would like to find out more about the NSPCC's PANTS campaign you can do that here - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rule/

Thank you,

The Pantosaurus (Nick)