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October 09
October 09
My Other Life 17

Help the NSPCC

talk PANTS

Having received overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents and carers about the
Underwear Rule to help protect children from sexual abuse, the NSPCC has launched
another phase of its campaign in a bid to get even more parents talking PANTS to their
children.
Around 400,000 parents have already spoken to their children about the Underwear
Rule (often referred to as PANTS) campaign, which helps parents explain to 5-11 year
old children, in simple terms, how to stay safe. It teaches that:
Privates are private
Always remember your body belongs to you
No means no
The Last Gasp Talk about secrets that upset you
Speak up- someone can help
One in three children who are sexually abused by an adult don’t reveal what has hap-
pened until later, if ever. The Underwear Rule encourages children to tell a trusted
Alistair Webster got together at the sugges- ways been an important adult as soon possible.
tion of his daughter who part of her life and studied
QC and Louise
was raising money by run- music at university, major-
Kitchin of The ning the London Marathon. ing in voice and brass. After An NSPCC spokesperson, said: “Two out of three parents who know about the Under-
wear Rule have discussed it with their children and while this is impressive progress,
Last Gasp garduation Louise joined a we want to encourage more to do this. With children at home over the summer holi-
Alistair says that the bands firm of solicitors as an office days, we thought it would be a great time to promote the message to those who
repertoire is mainly blues, junior, and enjoyed the law
Head of Lincoln House soul and rock and try to so much she trained for the haven’t yet used it.
Chambers, Alistair Webster keep up to date by adding Bar.
QC may be ranked by the new songs to their set and “It’s a simple, age-appropriate way of covering a tricky subject. Many parents worry
Legal 500 as a leading Silk in have recently introduced a Louise’s practice incorpo- that discussing the issue will ruin a child’s innocence but by using PANTS, you don’t
criminal fraud, but when couple of Paolo Nuitini rates an increasingly broad even have to mention sex. Once parents have used the rule they are often keen to pass
not defending fraud cases numbers. and extensive range of both it on to others, which is what this campaign is all about.
he is the vocalist with “The prosecution and defence
Last Gasp”. Alistair says “Our guitarist is cases. Her work includes all We want everyone to share the Underwear Rule with three other parents to help arm
a genius and what we do is aspects of junior criminal a generation against abuse.
The band has been playing great fun. We enjoy re- work including serious
together for over 5 years hearsals and performing drugs offences, violence “Even though sexual abuse cases appear frequently in the media, many parents find
with the aim of raising four or five times a year and sexual offences, con- it hard to discuss it with their child. We want it to be as natural as learning about road
money for various charities. whilst raising money for spiracy, fraud and murder. safety.”
Alistair is the lead vocalist good causes. Over the past
with the band and is joined five years we have raised Prior to joined the Last One local celebrity supporting the NSPCC #TalkPANTS campaign is England & Man-
by Martin Hodgson, gui- over £23,000. It is also very Gasp, Louise sang with the chester United captain, Wayne Rooney, who was revealed as the charity’s first Ambas-
tarists, Dave Wilde, rhythm therapeutic to get away Halle for five years and sador for Childhood earlier this month.
guitar and vocals, Steve from the life of a lawyer.” would often perform at
Shepherd on bass and Rob Chamber’s summer party. Wayne will help lead the charity’s fight for every childhood by promoting NSPCC cam-
Webster on drums. Louise Kitchin joined the She says “I really enjoy paigns and services – particularly those that support dads – to his millions of fans. The
Last Gasp just over a year singing and performing as a charity also hopes Wayne’s support will encourage more boys to speak out if they are
Alistair says that he has al- ago as a vocalist. Louise was band we have a lot of fun. suffering abuse or struggling to cope with depression or bullying.
ways enjoyed music and called to the Bar in 1998 and Ironically I discovered when
performing and the band joined Lincoln House Cham- I joined the band that the Commenting on his new ap-
bers in 2004. Music has al- lead guitarists is one of my pointment, Wayne, said:
“Every time I put on the cap-
neighbours.”
tain’s armband I’m filled with
pride. I feel the same becom-
ing the NSPCC’s first Ambas-
sador for Childhood and
having the chance to help
lead the fight for childhood.
“Being a dad of two young
boys changes your perspec-
tive on everything. You never
stop learning as a parent. It
can be tough, and some par-
ents need that bit of extra
support.
“As a youngster I was lucky
that my mum and dad al-
ways loved and supported
me and my brothers. They
helped make my dreams of
becoming a footballer come
true – I couldn’t have done it
without them. It upsets me
to think that there are so
many children damaged by
abuse, or parents struggling
to do their best but not able to give the kids the support they need.”
Hear from Wayne about his support of the charity at:
www.nspcc.org.uk/waynerooney
Alistair Webster QC
To find out more about the supporting the NSPCC’s #TALKPants campaign and
to share the Underwear Rule message, please visit
www.nspcc.org.uk/underwearrule