Tuesday 9th February is Safer Internet Day and the South West Grid for Learning are involved in a number of initiatives aimed to keep children safe online in the South West.

Information awareness campaigns are taking place in Bristol and Plymouth city centres, where the Police and Safeguarding Children’s Board personal will be handing out leaflets and offering advice to members of the public.

Gloucester city centre shops and banks are also supporting the day, wearing t-shirts to promote the safe online message – “The internet can take you anywhere”, and “Where are your children tonight?”

This campaign has been developed primarily by Gloucestershire Police who have been impressed with the community spirit.

In relation to this Sgt John Skilling commented, “we have visited all local shops and banks in the area and everyone is keen to help us promote this important message. This is really making it clear to the local population that we are serious about internet safety. I do hope that other areas can pick up this message as well and give as big a coverage as Gloucester – if not this time, then certainly by the next Safer Internet Day.”

The South West Grid for Learning has also developed a drama resource to help raise awareness in young people of the consequences of sharing and publishing images of others.

A play, complete with a script and teaching notes has been sent to schools across the region encouraging teenagers to use role play to communicate the message in their assemblies on 9th February.

However the campaign to make everyone safer on the internet is not restricted to the activities this week. Other activities that will be happening within the coming months include:

• The release of the new Online Safety Planner – the next step for the 360 degree safe software which allows any agency working with children to validate just how safe their own internet provision is. This was successfully rolled out to schools in November 2009. For more information on this go to www.360safe.org.uk
   
• The release of an update of the Golden Rules film, aimed at parents to help themselves and their children to be safer when using the internet. The current version of this film is available to view at http://www.swgfl.org.uk/Staying-Safe/e-Safety-Movies

Published: 08/02/2010 11:17:41