Three Discovery Builds Safe Spaces Online for Young People

Ensuring the safety of our young people in the online landscape is becoming more crucial than ever as Ofcom’s recent report reveals that nearly one quarter of five to seven-year-olds have a smartphone and numbers of five to seven-year-olds using social media, messaging and gaming online have risen.

In support of Safer Internet Day in February, Three Discovery has continued its mission to make the internet a safer place. Over eight weeks, the team had the opportunity to visit 24 schools across London, Berkshire, Lancashire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire, to talk about digital wellbeing and staying safe online. Through 145 engaging workshops and 17 lively assemblies, we’ve interacted with over 7,000 students.

Our goal is to equip young people with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the digital world safely and confidently. From understanding privacy settings to recognising malicious content, our workshops have covered a wide range of topics designed to empower students to make smart choices online.

One school said, “It is always a pleasure having [Discovery] in to work with the children. They love using the technology and talk about it for weeks. It grows their confidence in using technology as well as promote discussions about being safe when using technology and the internet.”

However, it’s not just about imparting information – it’s about fostering a sense of empowerment and resilience. We’ve made sure to create a welcoming space where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, asking questions, and learning from each other’s experiences.

Another school said, “[The] trainer treated the children with respect, making sure they knew he wasn’t the online police(!) so they could be honest with him. He circulated the room during the independent activity to make sure they could get help they needed.”

Discovery also support the older generation with digital security and online safety knowledge to ensure they navigate the digital world confidently. The team delivered an online Digital Security workshop for Age UK and a CPD Being Safe & Legal Online for Hounslow Gets Digital and West London Welcome Refugee & Migrant Centre.