Help us to make online spaces spacer for young people
We are now inviting organisations, practitioners and partners to take part in a new survey aimed at shaping the future response to youth digital safety and online harms across the region.
Children and young people are growing up in an increasingly digital world. Online spaces provide opportunities for learning, creativity, self-expression and connection, but they can also expose young people to harms including cyberbullying, exploitation, harmful content, image-based abuse, misogyny, harassment and online-facilitated violence.
The survey forms part of a wider programme of engagement we are undertaking to develop a public health approach to online harms. The partnership wants to better understand the current landscape of support, identify gaps in provision, explore emerging challenges and learn from the expertise of organisations already working in this space.
Rather than viewing online safety solely through the lens of risk, our ambition is to help children and young people across Merseyside be both safe and well online. This means reducing exposure to harm while also ensuring young people have the confidence, skills, resilience and support needed to thrive in digital environments.
The findings will help inform future commissioning priorities, service design, partnership development and test-and-learn pilot projects across Merseyside. Responses will be considered alongside national evidence, local intelligence and wider engagement with children, young people and communities.
We are particularly keen to hear from organisations involved in safeguarding, youth work, violence prevention, digital literacy, education, workforce development, online harms, exploitation, health, community engagement and research.
By sharing your insights, you can help shape a coordinated regional approach that strengthens support for children, young people, families and professionals, ensuring Merseyside is equipped to respond to the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving digital world.
Complete the survey here