Festival attendees at this year's HebCelt, occurring July 13 to 16, will be offered advice about how to protect young children from sexual abuse.

The NSPCC Talk PANTS campaign was launched last October in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland through a partnership between NSPCC Scotland and the islands' protection committees.

The campaign gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children about sexual abuse. With the help of a colourful animated character, called Pantosaurus, it teaches children that their body belongs to them, how to recognise behaviour which is not okay, and how to tell someone.

A team from the NSPCC will be at the Hebridean Celtic Festival introducing the campaign festival attendees. 

As part of the campaign, the Talk PANTS resources for parents and children have been translated into Scottish Gaelic and can be downloaded for free from the NSPCC website.

NSPCC staff, with help from Pantosaurus, will be handing out 5,000 parent guides at the HebCelt Festival, half of them will be in English and half in Scottish Gaelic.

Since the campaign was launched, NSPCC Scotland has run workshops explaining the Talk PANTS messaging with over 260 professionals including teachers, nursery workers and early years practitioners across three Scottish island groups: Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

As well as guides for parents, the campaign materials include a British Sign Language PANTS video and a Pantosaurus film.

Mubashar Khaliq, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: 

"Each year in Scotland, Police record more than 5,000 sexual offences committed against children. It is crucial that we do all we can to help prevent abuse from happening in the first place.

"The Talk PANTS campaign is about helping start difficult, but vital, conversations with children from a young age about sexual abuse and their right to be safe. 

"We don't talk about sex or use scary words but focus on rules that help children understand important messages like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they're upset or worried.

"We are really looking forward to visiting the Western Isles and having the opportunity to share these really important messages with as many people as possible."

Western Isles Area Commander Chief Inspector Alasdair Macleod, on behalf of the Western Isles Child Protection Committee, said:

"We talk to our children from a young age about safety topics, such as crossing the road or dealing with strangers, but when it comes to talking about sexual abuse this can be a daunting prospect.

"That's why we joined with Orkney Child protection Committee, Shetland Public Committee and NSPCC Scotland to run the charity's Talk PANTS campaign, which gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children about sexual abuse.

"Since the launch last autumn Stornoway Library has exhibited Talk PANTS displays and Ann Lanntair cinema has played the NSPCC's Pantosaurus film before some of its U-rated movies.

"NSPCC Scotland has also produced Gaelic translations of some of the resources to be used by parents, carers and children, which is a fantastic addition to the campaign for us here in the Western Isles.

"I would encourage anyone who works with or cares for young children to engage with this campaign and have a look at the materials available."

Parents and professionals can find out how to Talk PANTS here. The adult guides include ones for foster carers and parents with learning disabilities.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC's free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.