MORE support is being made available to help keep Bradford's vulnerable children and young people safe online, after the local NSPCC service centre revealed it is expanding part of its service offer.

With children spending more time online in the wake of lockdown, the NSPCC is adapting its 'In Ctrl' service, designed to help safeguard and protect children, to the current climate.

Until recently, the service was offered from the NSPCC Bradford service centre to a number of schools in the area, but will now be offered virtually to children and their carers, where needed.

With online sexual abuse able to happen anywhere which allows for digital communication - including social networks, messaging apps and online chats, amongst others - the In Ctrl service is designed to offer a safe space for children, young people and their carers to promote learning and build understanding of risk, in both their online and offline worlds.

Vicky Powell, Service Centre Team Manager, said: “It’s crucial that we build confidence in young people to speak out if they come across something that concerns them online - whether that’s being asked to do something inappropriate or coming across upsetting content.

“For some children, situations can feel out of their control very quickly, especially if they have had a worrying online experience, so we work with them, exploring issues such as healthy relationships and friendships online, enabling them to develop skills that will help protect them from grooming and exploitation.”

Carers have an important role to play by being aware of risks online, supporting children in their care emotionally and having regular conversations with them about what they are doing online.

The service provides additional support for carers to explore their worries and concerns and provide them with guidance to help them feel more confident supporting children and young people with their online activity, and more informed about parental controls and privacy settings.

More information about the In Ctrl service in Bradford can be found by calling 01274 381440.

The NSPCC has also launched an emergency fundraising appeal to raise crucial funds to support children, young people and their families across the UK, during this challenging time.

The charity is urging the public to visit its website and donate £10, to help fund vital services like Childline, so the charity can continue to be here for the young people who desperately need someone to talk to, especially when home isn’t a safe place.

New advice on apps can be accessed on the co-created NSPCC and O2 Net Aware site, which helps parents understand how to minimise the potential risks and ensure that online resources can be an important and safe part of coping with the implications of social distancing.

Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free and confidential advice on 0808 800 5000, or visit nspcc.org.uk

Children can contact Childline for free on 0800 1111, or by visitng childline.org.uk, 365 days a year, and speak to a counsellor about a worry or a concern that they may have.