In the run up to Safer Internet Day (Tuesday 5th February), schools across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton have been invited to take part in the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Cyber Ambassador scheme.
The Cyber Ambassador scheme enables skilled-up, informed pupils to educate and offer advice and support to their peers on staying safe online.
To ensure the scheme tackles topical online issues, and is delivered in a way that is engaging and relevant for young people, the training package and supporting materials were developed by members of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Youth Commission.
Under the programme primary schools learn how to stay safe and defeat cyber sea monsters Selphire (selfies) Meanataur (cyberbullying), Angler (searching), Info-Eator (privacy) and Bi-Diphorus (befriending). The scheme is based on learning through activities and uses top trump cards for each Sea Monster to reinforce the learning around each individual danger and the actions that can be taken to protect yourself and others.
For secondary schools the Cyber Ambassador scheme covers issues such as sexting, cyber stalking and grooming. The delivery of the programme is through a combination of digital tools and group activities. At secondary level peers educating peers proved a particularly powerful approach.
Alison Romaine, 19 who was one of the Youth Commission members who developed the Cyber Ambassador scheme said:
“The Cyber Ambassador scheme has linked technical and social advice from organisations with school children (the experts of the trends and goings on of their online lives) who can then teach their peers and talk with their parents – increasing transparency in what can sometimes be an elusive thing of the ‘internet’. It has allowed young people to be in control of how they live online.”
Isle of Wight schools already signed up to take part include Cowes Primary School, Newchurch Primary School and Nettlestone Primary.
More information about the #GoFish campaign and the Cyber Ambassador scheme can be found here.
