Young people met Government and UK Safer Internet Centre representatives at Safer Internet Day events across the UK

Young people played a central role in Safer Internet Day 2019, from leading sessions and speaking at our youth events, to creating new resources, sharing their pledges, educating their peers and engaging with policy makers.

Over 2,000 organisations, schools and wider signed up as official supporters, and we know many more also joined in to celebrate the day. The breadth of activities on social media highlighted the scope of engagement right across the UK!

In England and Scotland young people met together with Ministers and other key policymakers at events run by the UK Safer Internet Centre to explore how we can all come ‘together for a better internet’.

In London, over 60 young people attended a special youth-led interactive event at the BT Centre, welcoming over 150 policymakers, industry, charities and media from across a range of sectors to discuss how young people navigate the challenges around consent online.

Pupils from Dr Challoners High School, Dundonald Primary School, Hoxton Garden Primary, Mayfield School, Orchard Primary School, Kaizen Primary School, Sarah Bonnell School, Southwold Primary School, and Titus Salt School came together to host the UK Safer Internet Centre’s event at the BT Centre.

The young people ran activity stations for guests, delivered key note speeches, gave interviews to media and took part in a panel discussion led by the BBC journalist Kate Russell.

Throughout the event there were speeches from the CEO of BT’s Consumer brands Marc Allera, Minister for Digital Margot James, and Department for Education Minister for Children and Families Nadhim Zahawi.

Pupils from Newbattle High School welcomed the Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Maree Todd, to Newbattle High School on 5th February. Recently opened as a Centre for Digital Excellence, pupils showcased to the Minister their work on online safety. 

The Minister and the group of pupils had a discussion around the impact of technology on everyone’s lives, and the changes that have happened in a relatively short space of time.

Safer Internet Day 2019 kicked off at Goodison Park with Everton Football Club hosting 250 young people from 22 schools for workshops on this year’s theme of “Our internet, our choice” with a focus on understanding consent in a digital world.

Liverpool Football Club and the UK Safer Internet Centre hosted over 400 children at Anfield on Safer Internet Day. Thirty-one schools from across Liverpool gathered to listen to our online safety expert, play Safer Internet Day games, meet LFC players and tour the stadium.

The event was attended by footballing legend Robbie Fowler, first team men’s player Rhian Brewster and women’s team players, Leighanne Robe and Kirsty Linnett .They shared with the schools their best tips for keeping their personal information safe on the internet.

In Northern Ireland schools celebrated Safer Intenret day in a range of ways, including special assemblies, lessons and events. Many schools registered as supporters on the Safer Internet Day Supporters list, including Aughnacloy College, Sandelford school and Castlewellan Primary School.

Schools across Wales delivered activities for Safer Internet Day around the theme of “Our Internet, Our Choice: Understanding Consent in a Digital World,”. Many schools in Wales registered as official Safer Internet Day supporters, and told us a bit about their plans, these schools include Ysgol Bryn Coch, Ysgol Eirias, Ysgol Gatholig Santes Fair and Ysgol y Felin.