UK Safer Internet Centre
Who we are
The UK Safer Internet Centre is a unique partnership of three world-leading charities – Childnet, IWF and SWGfL
A bridge between Government, industry, law enforcement and society, we are the engine of the online protection landscape in the UK, dealing with both prevention and response.
We work together to identify threats and harms online and then create and deliver critical advice, resources, and interventions that help keep children and young people safe. All resources are available in our newly launched website.
What we provide
- Hotline: for members of the public to report suspected child sexual abuse imagery online.
- Helplines: to support professionals working with children and young people on online safety issues.
- Platform: for people to report harmful content online which is not related to child sexual abuse material.
- Awareness Centre: to provide advice and support to children and young people, parents and carers, schools and the children's workforce and to coordinate Safer Internet Day across UK.
Here’s a report on our achievements.
Safer Internet Day
We run UK Safer Internet Day (SID), an annual event to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. Our reach is unparalleled by any other organisation working in this space and over the years, Safer Internet Day has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar worldwide.
Safer Internet Day 2021 reached more young people than ever before, with 51% of UK children aged 8-17 hearing about the day, alongside 38% of UK parents and carers.
The educational resources created for the day were downloaded over 1.5 million times and the event had a media reach of 126 million people. 99% of teachers say Safer Internet Day plays a significant role in their school’s online safety provision.
For SID in February 2021, we ran a virtual event with politicians where children from St. Patrick’s College, Dungannon, were able to discuss their views on this year’s theme: “An internet we can trust exploring reliability in the online world.” The event was chaired by Dr. Lisa Cameron MP, a Vice Chair of the APPG on Social Media and included contributions from the Shadow Digital Minister, Chi Onwurah MP and Will Gardner, CEO of Childnet International. Over 30 MPs and Peers also supported Safer Internet Day by tweeting their support online.
The UKSIC also worked with young people to develop a Young People’s Charter for Safer Internet Day 2021 on how government and online stakeholders can help create a more trustworthy internet.
Links and resources:
- The Professionals Online Safety Helpline (POSH) – To support professionals working with children and young people in the UK.
- Online Safety Training - Online safety training for staff, children and parents, delivered by experts from SWGfL both face-to-face or online.
- Project Evolve – Free digital education toolkit to prepare learners for the digital world.
- 360 Degree Safe – An online safety self-review tool for schools.
- STAR SEND Toolkit - Teaching toolkit to equip, enable and empower educators with the relevant knowledge to support young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).