Keeping Peterborough children safe online

The internet is a fantastic place for children and young people to socialise, explore their interests and learn. But every parent should be aware there are risks, too. By Sarah Lambley, NSPCC Community Fundraising Manager for Peterborough, explains...

The NSPCC is seeing a growing number of cases where children and young people have been targeted by adults through popular apps and social media platforms. As well as leading to cases where children are exposed to inappropriate conversations or material online, this kind of grooming may also result in adults meeting young people in the real world with all the accompanying serious dangers that follow. Figures from our Childline service have shown that children are increasingly concerned about becoming victims of online sexual abuse. In 2015/16 there were 3,716 Childline counselling sessions about online sexual abuse, a 24 per cent increase from 2014/15 (2,994 contacts on the issue). Online sexual abuse can take the form of grooming, child sexual exploitation, sexting, being made to perform sex acts on webcam, meet up in person, and viewing distressing sexually explicit content.

Feeling trapped, ashamed and too frightened to talk to an adult
All these are concerns that have been raised to counsellors at the NSPCC-run helpline. Online bullying also remains a significant concern for young people, as hurtful messages can be targeted at children at any time in the online world. And sharing naked or semi-naked pictures with others – known as ‘sexting’ – is another emerging issue with around 1 in 7 young people believed to have done so. So it’s incredibly important that we regularly speak to children about what they like to do online and the risks they could face, ensuring we are ready to listen and support them if something does go wrong. The NSPCC, in partnership with O2, can help you keep your child safe online.

To help parents explore the sites, apps and games their child uses we’ve created Net Aware which looks at the safety of the sites children use most, as well as giving guidance on age suitability. Here, parents and young people can find out how to set privacy settings and how to block or report online. The partnership also encourages parents to be Share Aware and talk to your children about what is and is not suitable to share online. If you need help setting up parental controls then experts at our Online Safety Helpline – 0808 800 5002 – can talk you through them. You can also visit an NSPCC-trained O2 Guru in store for support, whether you’re an O2 customer or not. Keeping children safe online is everyone’s responsibility: parents, tech companies and government. Between us we can build a better internet for children.

What are the signs that a childmay be being abused online?

A child may be experiencing abuse online if they: ● spend lots, much more or much less time online, texting, gaming or using social media ● are withdrawn, upset or outraged after using the internet or texting ● are secretive about who they’re talking to and what they’re doing online or on their mobile phone ● have lots of new phone numbers, texts or e-mail addresses on their mobile phone, laptop or tablet ● Anyone worried about a child can contact the NSPCC’s helpline on 0808 500 1111. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk

What can you do to keep children safe online?
● Talk about things they might see online which make them feel uncomfortable
● Set parental controls and privacy settings on devices used by children
● Be Share Aware – talk about what is, and is not, ok to share online
● Explain that your child can come to you if someone asks to send them a nude picture or if they receive an explicit message
● Reassure them that you won’t overreact if they come to you with an issue or have shared an image they regret
● For advice call the NSPCC O2 helpline on 0808 800 5002 or search NSPCC Share Aware.

NSPCC appeals for more volunteers to help protect local children from abuse 
A scheme that empowers children as young as five to stay safe from abuse is looking for more volunteers. The NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe programme has reached nearly 6,000 children in schools in the Peterborough area over the last three years. The initiative is fully age-appropriate and sees assemblies take place with younger pupils as well as more in-depth interactive talks and workshops with older students.

Primary school children are taught about different forms of child abuse such as neglect, bullying and physical and sexual abuse and encouraged to speak out about any worries they have with the help of mascot Buddy. In some cases, the assemblies have even resulted in children reporting abuse, leading to offenders being prosecuted and convicted of their crimes.

The NSPCC’s Lisa Hynes recently visited Farcet Church of England Primary School where pupils will also take part in a sporting activity to raise money for the charity.

Lisa said: ‘It is vital that young people know the trusted adults they can talk to and through this programme we can help protect a generation of children. Our team does a fantastic job in creating a fun atmosphere to educate young people, but in order to reach our goal of visiting every school in the Peterborough area we simply need more volunteers.’

Farcet head teacher Nathanael Robinson said: ‘The team gave vital advice to the children in an engaging and lively way. The pupils understood the key messages and can’t stop talking about Buddy. They already knew what to do in order to keep themselves safe, but they now have an even clearer understanding. They are motivated to take part in the upcoming fundraising activities.’

Volunteers will be given extensive training about the NSPCC’s work and the different forms of abuse children suffer and will be required to visit two schools a month.
● For more information contact Michelle Newton on 01163 665640 or email
● Teachers can also request a Speak Out Stay Safe visit to their school via www.nspcc.org.uk

NSPCC Events
Rutland Water Family Bike Ride
18 June
Sign up to the annual sponsored Rutland Water Family Bike Ride and raise money for the NSPCC’s Peterborough Service Centre. Organised by the Peterborough Business Support Group the 17-mile ride takes you through the beautiful scenery and wildlife of the famous Rutland Waters nature reserve. Entry costs £10 for adults, £5 for children and £25 for a family ticket and participants are expected to raise money through sponsorship.
● For more information contact Sarah Lambley on 0203 826 3549 or email

Huntingdon Dining Club lunch
19 April
The Huntingdon Dining Club’s second charity lunch takes place at the George Hotel and Brasserie in Buckden from 12pm. The fundraising club holds four dinners a year to raise money for the NSPCC and this lunch welcomes author and entertainer Sarah Harrison as a guest speaker. The two course lunch in a beautiful setting costs £25.
For details and to book contact Annie Powell on 01480 453033 or email