Over 100,000 registrations for Home Office’s online FGM training
Over 100,000 people have already registered for the Home Office’s online training package, developed with online learning specialist, Virtual College, to generate rapid, widespread awareness of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Around 125,000 women in the UK are at risk or have experienced the traumatic practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).
The Home Office found significantly different levels of knowledge in frontline safeguarding staff, and worked with Virtual College to create e-learning content which would improve awareness and encourage a multi-agency approach.
The online training package gives teachers, police, doctors, social workers and Border Force staff the training they need to help them identify and assist girls who are at risk of FGM.
At the launch just two years ago, the then Home Secretary, Theresa May, commented: “Legislation alone is not enough. We must do more to prevent these harmful practices ever happening in the first place. We must raise awareness, challenge social norms and protect those at risk.
“We are launching improved multi-agency practice guidelines on how to tackle cases of FGM, a new FGM e-learning package for safeguarding practitioners and a resource pack for commissioners.”
As a result of the course, nine out of ten learners said they would now do something differently and 82% said they would feel quite or very confident in what to do if they came across FGM in the future.
Throughout this online course, a watercolour illustrated storybook format is used with reflective exercises, quizzes and clear information on multi-agency actions. It features a girl called Hope as she encounters the key issues relating to FGM and we see how they affect her throughout her life.
Of the 100,000 learner registrations achieved in just two years, 15,000 are from high risk FGM areas, as defined by the Home Office.
The spread of awareness is still gathering momentum with over 200 course registrations per day this year, up 126% from last year.
The free training can be accessed at: www.fgmelearning.co.uk.