The NSPCC and Edgbaston Stadium have united to tackle online bullying – and will drum up support as the Ashes get under way on Thursday.
Fans will be able to sign up for online safety and
anti-bullying workshops which will be run by the NSPCC in the coming months.
The leading child protection charity has joined forces with Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s official charity the Edgbaston Foundation, to help young people keep themselves safe from online bullying.
Working with the NSPCC locally on helping parents and young people better understand the issues that can impact them online helps us achieve our aims and hopefully equips young people with the understanding necessary to manage their wellbeing.
Ravi Masih
NSPCC staff and volunteers will have a stall in
the Exhibition Hall at the opening day of the first Ashes test against
Australia on Thursday (August 1), as they did when Birmingham Bears kicked off
their new Vitality Blast (T20) campaign against Leicestershire Foxes on July
21.
As well as the opportunity to attend workshops,
supporters will also be able to get online safety advice on issues such as setting
parental controls, and different types of apps and social media platforms, from
O2 Gurus – tech experts who work closely with the NSPCC.
And families will be able to test their online
knowledge with the NSPCC’s Parents vs Kids game.
NSPCC fundraisers will also be collecting
donations outside the stadium, and selling raffle tickets with the chance to
win a three-night stay in any of Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s boutique hotels,
or a cricket bat signed by Warwickshire and England star Chris Woakes.
Future campaign plans include workshops for
Edgbaston coaches, staff and parents of youth players.
It comes after a partnership was launched with
between the NSPCC and the Edgbaston Foundation last year, with players visiting
the Birmingham Childline base and the charity’s mascot Pantosaurus appearing on
the pitch at a T20 Vitality Blast match.
NSPCC Midlands Campaigns Manager Ally Sultana
said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Edgbaston Foundation to tackle
online bullying and help young people keep themselves safe.
“The online world is a major part of modern life,
so it is vital that we help parents and carers understand the range of risks
that their children face online, and that we ensure young people have the tools
and knowledge to protect themselves.
“It would be great if supporters could take a few
minutes on Thursday to pop and see us – and I’m sure they will find it really
beneficial.”
Ravi Masih, Head of Community
Engagement at Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: “The Edgbaston Foundation
aims to enrich young people’s lives through education and enable them to
improve their wellbeing.
“Working with the NSPCC locally
on helping parents and young people better understand the issues that can
impact them online helps us achieve our aims and hopefully equips young people
with the understanding necessary to manage their wellbeing.
“Fans joining us on day one of
the Ashes can support this work by purchasing a raffle ticket and winning some
great prizes.”
Special edition Warwickshire Build-A-Bears are
also on sale in the stadium shop, with proceeds going towards the NSPCC and
Edgbaston Foundation.
A range of online safety advice
is available on the NSPCC’s Net Aware website www.net-aware.org.uk while parents can also call the
NSPCC and O2 Online Safety Helpline on 0808 800 5002.
Childline is there for young
people 24 hours a day on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk.
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