Staying safe online

1 What we do

We're an integral part of the Community Safety & Wellbeing Team in West Sussex County Council. Our role is to raise online safety awareness amongst our communities and professionals across West Sussex.

We run many events, offering different packages, giving top tips and advice to help you stay safe when you’re online.

Supporting documents

2 Online safety advice

Many people have concerns about using the internet, however, there are practical steps you can take to use it safely.

Below are resources which offer advice on how to remain safe while using the internet:

Note: Videos use YouTube captions, which we have checked for accuracy.

By playing this video YouTube may set cookies.

Children

Almost all of us are likely to be spending more time online at the moment, including children.

The Government has produced some guidance for parent and carers to keep children safe online. This outlines resources to help keep children safe from different risks online and where to go to receive support and advice.

3 Training events

Safe Against Scams

Due to the success of previous sessions, West Sussex Community Safety and Wellbeing Team, alongside Trading Standards, are running more Safe Against Scams webinars. Please share the information about these sessions with your friends and family so we can prevent as many people as possible from becoming a victim of fraud.

The Library Digital Support team can provide support with accessing the webinars from your own device or you can view them on any of the library computers. Please phone 033 022 23455 for any support required.

More than ever before, we have been relying on technology to enable us to work, learn and connect with each other. Inevitably, criminals have exploited this and used our increased digital lives to their advantage.

The pandemic has seen a rise in scams, including phone, courier and romance fraud, which have all become an increased concern in West Sussex. Not only is there the financial impact on victims but the emotional impact can be even more significant.

To help raise awareness of these different types of scams, WSCC will be hosting free, short webinars. The webinars will provide you with the knowledge on how to spot them and what to do if you or your family become a victim of online fraud.

The webinars are on the following dates:

Are you scam savvy? Wednesday 15 November 2023, 10.00am-11.30am - Save the date! Book your space via Eventbrite.

4 Report online crime

If you or your business become a victim of cybercrime you can report it to Action Fraud.

If you suspect that a child or young person has been, or is being, groomed or exploited this must be shared with one of the agencies below:

Police: 101 or in an emergency 999
West Sussex Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): 01403 229900
NSPCC Online Safety helpline: 08088 005002

5 Digital Ambassadors

Would you like advice and support about how to be safe online? Are you interested in learning more about digital safety and current online scams? The Get Safe Online West Sussex Digital Ambassadors can help!

There are a range of ways to support digital safety needs. Our Digital Ambassadors offer:

1-2-1 bookable sessions at your local library
drop in events at your local library
presentations and informal chats at community groups
community events.

If you would like some free digital safety support from a friendly and patient volunteer, or you are interested in becoming a Digital Ambassador and help prevent people becoming a victim of online crime, please contact us via email: DigitalAmbassadors@westsussex.gov.uk.

New recruitment for Digital Ambassador volunteers

We are seeking Digital Ambassadors to be representatives from both communities and professional organisations.

This is an exciting opportunity that will empower those taking part, to make a difference in their communities and organisations by providing people with the necessary awareness of online safety to enable them to protect themselves and others.

If you would like to apply, please send an expression of interest to DigitalAmbassadors@westsussex.gov.uk no later than 12 noon on Monday 9 October 2023; we will then send you an application form. Upon enquiry, you will receive detailed information about the role.

The Digital Ambassador role allows flexibility around personal life or work commitments and you can volunteer however much time you are able to - there is no set commitment or time requirement.

Geographical location will be local to you but countywide opportunities will also be available, should you wish to partake.

If you’re successful, we will be hosting online induction training on two different dates. We will share the dates below, so please bear this in mind when registering your interest as we will ask you which date you’d prefer to attend. All training will be from 9.30am-3.00pm.

Online induction training dates:

Wednesday 25 October 2023
Friday 10 November 2023

6 Young people and children

We know how fun the internet is; from chatting to friends, playing games, to catching up with the latest TikTok trends. However, the internet can be as dangerous as the offline 'real' world.

In 2022, the Internet Watch Foundation reported 255,588 confirmed child sexual abuse imagery online. It’s a very real, and very scary situation to be in. If this happens to you, it can feel isolating and difficult to know what to do next.

Report Remove - Report Remove is freely available to help young people under 18 in the UK to confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves and remove them from the internet. This tool is in partnership between the Internet Watch Foundation and Childline.

Below is a list of websites that can support you, your friends and parents/carers in further protecting yourself when online:

Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) - If you’re worried about online abuse or the way someone has been communicating online, let CEOP know. One of their experienced child protection advisors will be there to make sure you get the help you need.
Know about Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE): Young People - Child Sexual Exploitation is a difficult and sensitive topic. It can happen both offline and online. Know about CSE will give you top tips to protect yourself, plus information on spotting the signs. The website also looks at healthy relationships and sexting.
Barnardos - Help get the support you need to grow and develop. They offer practical and emotional support so that you can enter adulthood with the confidence you need to achieve your full potential. Discover the different ways they can support you.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) - Understanding online safety is tricky for all ages. The NSPCC have advice to help you learn about staying safe online as a family. This website is aimed at children, young people and parents.
Parents Against Child Exploitation (PACE) - A national charity working to keep children safe from exploitation by supporting their parents, disrupting the offenders and working in partnership with police and family services. They also train professionals to support affected children and their parents using a trauma-informed, family-centric approach.
ThinkUKnow - The National Crime Agency's CEOP Education team aim to help protect children and young people from online child sexual abuse. They do this through our education programme, providing training, resources and information to professionals working with children, young people and their families.
Parent Zone - At the heart of digital family life, parent zone’s mission is simple: to improve outcomes for children in an increasingly digital world.
UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) - Helps to make the internet a great and safe place for everyone. They provide support and services to children and young people, adults facing online harms and professionals working with children. UKSIC is formed of three charities, Childnet, Internet Watch Foundation and SWGfL.