Staying safe online is a family affair
HARTLEPOOL people of all ages are invited to come along to some special events next week to help them stay safe when using the internet.
Tuesday 7th February is annual Safer Internet Day - a national event to raise awareness of online safety issues - and Hartlepool Safeguarding Children Board has organised a host of activities to highlight eSafety throughout that week.
This year's theme is 'Connecting Generations and Educating Each Other' under which people of every age are being encouraged to 'discover the digital world together ... safely!'
Topics will include everything from the dangers to children from online predators and cyberbullying to identity theft, internet scams and phishing.
*Drop-in sessions for people of all ages - on Monday 6th February at the Space To Learn centre near St Hild's School in King Oswy Drive from 1.30pm to 6pm and on Wednesday 8th February at Hartlepool College of Further Education from 1.30pm-4pm.
People will have a chance to share experiences and get safety tips - including copies of Ashleigh's Rules - and will be given free computer software to help them easily identify any unwarranted access to their home computer. The organisers are especially keen to hear from those with responsibility for protecting vulnerable people.
* Workshops for schools at Space To Learn on Monday 6th February and Friday 10th February from 9.30am-12.30pm.
The young people will be able to talk about their e-safety concerns and learn more about staying safe online through a range of activities including using interactive computer programmes and creating an e-safety poster campaign.
* A Digital Media Day on Tuesday 7th February at Space To Learn from 9am to 4.30pm.
About 25 young people from primary schools across the town will be creating videos and a radio broadcast about e-safety.
* Cyber Mentor Training on Wednesday 8th February at Hartlepool College of Further Education from 1.30pm-4pm, during which about 25 young people aged 11-17 will be learning how the be e-safety mentors, to spread the word about online safety.
For more information about next week's e-safety events, call the Space To Learn centre on 01429 891744.
You can down load an event poster here
Download Resources here:
Teeswide LSCB's eSafety Strategy
Teeswide LSCB's eSafety Standards
If you are concerned about a child or vulnerable adult, please call the duty team on 01429 523872 or out of hours call 0870 240 2994.