NSPCC Cymru/Wales receives funding to help keep vulnerable children safe online

• Children’s charity secures Welsh Government grant to safeguard children online
• Pandemic has increased risks online with young people spending more time alone 
• NSPCC’s In Ctrl service helps prevent online sexual abuse of children

More children and young people in Wales will be helped to stay safe online after NSPCC Cymru/Wales received a cash boost from Welsh Government to support its In Ctrl service. The service is offered free to vulnerable children across Wales and aims to safeguard them in their digital worlds and prevent online sexual abuse.

With more children spending time online due to national Covid restrictions, the grant of almost £96,000 from Welsh Government will support the delivery of In Ctrl across north and south Wales over the next six months. The donation was received through the Voluntary Services Recovery Fund administered by WCVA (Wales Council for Voluntary Action). The funding will also enable the charity to offer further support to children from Rhondda Cynon Taf, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr and Torfaen.

Police have logged more than 2,600 online child sex offences in Wales since it became mandatory for forces to record a ‘cyber flag’ – a crime involving the internet – in 2015. But the NSPCC warns that the true scale of the problem is likely to be much higher with children being at increased risk of abuse online since the start of the pandemic as they’ve spent more time at home on internet devices and away from support networks.

In Ctrl provides a safe space to help children and their parents or carers build an understanding of risk and increase resilience – exploring issues such as online friendships, consent and sexting.

Children’s Service Manager for NSPCC Cymru/Wales, Tracey Holdsworth says: “The online world can help children learn, socialise and play, but with children continuing to spend more time at home, it remains our priority to make sure they also have the right support to be able to navigate the online world safely.

“Online, situations can feel out of a child’s control very quickly and so through In Ctrl we enable children to develop skills that will help protect them from grooming and exploitation.

“We want to prevent online child sexual abuse and so as well as continuing to push for tougher online regulation we want to build confidence in young people so that they feel able to speak out if they come across upsetting content or are asked to do something inappropriate online.”

WCVA Chief Executive, Ruth Marks added: “The Voluntary Services Recovery Fund was set up to make sure vital services such as NSPCC Cymru/Wales’ In Ctrl can continue to support vulnerable people during the pandemic. This service is so important, especially now, and we’re glad to be able to do something to support it.

“For other voluntary organisations in Wales that are delivering vital Covid-19 services at this time, WCVA would encourage you to consider following NSPCC Cymru/Wales’ example and see if the Voluntary Services Recovery Fund is for you.”

Online sexual abuse can happen anywhere that allows digital communication, including social networks, messaging apps, voice chat in games and comments via live streaming.

Since the offence of Sexual Communication with a Child was introduced in April 2017 following a campaign by the NSPCC, making it illegal for an adult to send a sexual message to a child, there have been more than 1,000 offences recorded in Wales.

It’s why services such as In Ctrl are so crucial, not only supporting children but providing guidance to parents and carers – helping them learn new skills to manage safety online and increase their confidence supporting children and young people with online activity.

The NSPCC encourages all parents and carers to have regular conversations with their children to help keep them safe online. It’s co-created the Net Aware site with O2, providing the latest advice on apps and games.

In Ctrl is a virtual service that works with children aged 9-13 and their carers to help minimise risk online. For more information about the In Ctrl service contact one of the NSPCC’s service centres: 02920 108080 (Cardiff), 01792 456545 (Swansea) or 01745 772100 (Prestatyn).

Children can contact Childline every day of the week on 0800 11 11 from 9am to 3.30am. Or they can get in touch via childline.org.uk where 1-2-1 chats can be requested 9am – 10.30pm.

Anyone with any concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk for advice.