Schools across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are being encouraged to take part in a poster competition as part of an online safety campaign taking place across the county.

Kids Safety Net, a new campaign to raise aware of online safety across the county, is asking schools to get creative as part of the ‘Speak Up, Starting Conversations About Keeping Safe online’ competition, which challenges young people from Year 5 to Year 8 to design a poster encouraging others to start conversations about online bullying, online friends, and how to stay safe online.

Those taking part can present their eye-catching poster to their peers, with schools being encouraged to include this work as part of their personal health, social, health and economic education (PSHE), information and communications technology (ICT), art and design and/or online safety planning.

Ellen Smith, NSPCC local campaigns manager for the East of England, said: “This is such a great way to get young people to use their creative talent, and also start vital conversations with their peers about online safety.

“Winning designs will be presented as a digital resource as well as being displayed in community spaces for other children across the county. Schools will also be awarded e-safety training organised by the ICT Service.

“This is a great example of how communities working together can make a vital difference to a child’s online experience and potentially save many children across the county from preventable harm.”

The NSPCC, in conjunction with the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child Programme, The ICT Service, Anglian Learning, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Children Partnership Board, Cambridgeshire PSHE, Meridian Trust and Healthy Schools launched the six-month campaign ‘Kids Safety Net’ at Northstowe College in March. 

“We hope this is the start of many more such projects to come.”

The closing date for all entries is 4pm on Friday June 23. Visit: healthyschoolscp.org.uk.