NSPCC Cymru launch pan Wales service to help keep vulnerable children safe online during crisis

• NSPCC Cymru expands service to support looked-after children in every local authority area
• The children’s charity wants to help keep children safe in their digital worlds as they spend more time online during lockdown
• Move welcomed by Children’s Commissioner for Wales

More support is available to help keep vulnerable children and young people in Wales safe online after NSPCC Cymru revealed it’s expanding part of its free service offer so it can be there for more children.

With children spending more time online as a result of being asked to stay at home, the children’s charity is adapting its In Ctrl service that helps safeguard children and young people in their digital worlds and prevent online sexual abuse.

Until recently, the service was offered from NSPCC Cymru’s service centres in South Wales, but will now be offered virtually to looked-after children and their carers in every local authority area across the country.

“During this global health crisis, we recognise that the impact on children and young people who are looked after away from their home and their carers is significant,” says Desmond Mannion, Head of Services for NSPCC Cymru.

“We know that there are some children and young people who may be at heightened risk of abuse online, and it is a priority of ours to help keep them safe.

“We are adapting the way in which we work to ensure we can support children who live in foster placements or residential care, with a particular focus to ensuring they are better safeguarded online.”

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Sally Holland said: “I welcome this service from NSPCC Cymru. There are many children’s rights at stake when children are online.

“While internet use helps children to relax and play, socialise and learn, they also need to be safe online and may need the support of their parents or carers to do this.

“This new service will help children who most need support to navigate the online world and this has become more pressing than ever while children are subject to social distancing measures.”

Online sexual abuse can happen anywhere that allows digital communication, including social networks, text messages, messaging apps, email and online chats, as well as voice chat in games and comments on live streaming apps.

The In Ctrl service is designed to offer a safe space to children, young people and their carers to promote learning, build understanding of risk and increase resilience, in their online and offline worlds.

Service Centre Manager for South Wales Tracey Holdsworth says: “It’s crucial that we build confidence in young people to speak out if they come across something that concerns them online – whether that’s being asked to do something inappropriate or coming across upsetting content.

“For some children, situations can feel out of their control very quickly especially if they have had a worrying online experience, so we work with them exploring issues such as healthy relationships and friendships online, enabling them to develop skills that will help protect them from grooming and exploitation.”

The pan Wales service will support looked-after children aged 9-13 and their carers navigate online activity safely, supporting them through a series of virtual sessions that will help minimise risk to them when they are online.

With a Children’s Service Practitioner from NSPCC Cymru, children and young people will explore themes such as boundaries, pressure and expectation online, self-care, body image, pornography, and sexting.

Carers have an important role to play by being aware of risks online, supporting children in their care emotionally, and having regular conversations with them about what they are doing online.

The service provides additional support for carers to explore their worries and concerns and provide them with guidance to help them feel more confident supporting children and young people with their online activity, and more informed about parental controls and privacy settings.

Service Centre Manager for North Wales Mark Parry said: “We want to help young people and their carers learn new skills to manage safety online.

“The sessions will look at life online for a young person and how this may be affecting them, with with the aim of supporting them to be able to enjoy life online in a safe and healthy way.

“We’ll explore social media, consent and talk about potential risks in their on and offline worlds and how to seek help if they have a worry about it.

“Without the support of teachers, children should know they can turn to their parents, carers or Childline, if they have any worries or concerns.”

The charity launched an emergency fundraising appeal earlier this month to raise crucial funds to support children, young people and their families across Wales during this challenging time.

It’s urging the public to visit its website and donate £10 to help fund vital services like Childline, so the charity can continue to be here for the young people who desperately need someone to talk to, especially when home isn’t a safe place.  

New advice on apps can be accessed on the co-created NSPCC and O2 Net Aware site, which helps parents understand how to minimise the potential risks and ensure that online resources can be an important, and safe, part of coping with the implications of social distancing.

For more information about the In Ctrl service contact 02920 108080 or 01792 456545.

Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free and confidential advice on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk

Children can contact Childline for free on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk 365 days a year, and speak to a counsellor about a worry or concern they may have.