Derbyshire police commissioner funds scheme to educate schoolchildren on risks of online exploitation

An online safety project is being launched in North East Derbyshire and Bolsover primary schools to help protect children from exploitation.
By Ed Dingwall
Published 10th Nov 2020, 10:43 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Independent provider ESafety Training has been awarded the contract to deliver the superhero-themed I-Vengers Digital Leaders scheme in schools across Derbyshire.

The project will run across the county for two years, funded by £70,000 from Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa and £30,000 from Derbyshire County Council.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Dhindsa said: “The risks of online exploitation are growing but we can make a difference by arming children with the knowledge they need to avoid harm.”

A new initiative is to teach Derbyshire primary school pupils to take a lead in fighting online exploitation. (Photo by Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)A new initiative is to teach Derbyshire primary school pupils to take a lead in fighting online exploitation. (Photo by Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
A new initiative is to teach Derbyshire primary school pupils to take a lead in fighting online exploitation. (Photo by Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)

He added: “One of the strengths of the project is the way in which it places children at the centre of the solutions and encourages them to use their voice to safeguard their peer group.

“We know young people respond well to other young people and, through the project, we aim to speak in the language and medium favoured by school pupils to ensure important messages are heard.”

The initiative is targeted towards children in years five and six, but will initially deliver online safety training to multi-agency professionals working with children.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When it is rolled out to schools, pupils will be selected as I-Vengers leaders to help deliver key safety messages to their peer group and the adults around them.

Traci Good, director of ESafety Training, said: "The I-vengers programme takes a holistic look at online safety, enabling young people to become peer educators in their schools and giving them the opportunity to educate their parents, carers and teachers.

“Completing tasks that are age-appropriate will allow them to think critically about how they interact with others when using online technologies.”

She added: “By moving away from the traditional ‘scare tactics’ that have sadly become commonplace, we can allow children to become capable and confident online explorers.”

A pilot scheme ran successfully in Chesterfield between in 2018-19, and it is now being rolled out to other districts to ensure a consistent county-wide approach.