25th November 2020Cyber Ambassadors Scheme for Young People
What is the Cyber Ambassador Scheme?
Written by young people for young people
Delivered to young people by young people
Free and sustainable
Endorsed by the Police and Crime Commissioner
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) delivers a peer-to-peer cyber education initiative in schools across Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.
The scheme is split into two programmes in order to meet the needs of different age groups: Primary School Programme and Secondary School Programme. Both programmes aim to engage with the target age group by using an age appropriate approach and materials.
The primary school scheme utilises the ‘Cyber Sea Monsters’ curriculum; the Cyber Sea Monsters represent ongoing cyber issues; children will explore and defeat these monsters. The secondary school and college schemes are divided up into six modules for students to cover; the modules focus on a variety of online harms and risks, and provide students with the knowledge to understand risks, act responsibly and resolve issues.
The scheme entails training a small group of students (the Cyber Ambassadors), who will take on the peer leadership role to support cyber education in their school. By signing up to the scheme, schools receive access to initial training and any desired refresher training for ambassadors, Cyber Ambassador badges and certificates, access to a website containing resources and lesson plans, and ongoing support from the scheme coordinators. Primary school students also receive Cyber Sea Monster top trump cards.
Once trained, Cyber Ambassadors undertake numerous duties, within their schools, which include:
- Presenting online safety workshops/assemblies to their peers;
- Running drop-in help sessions;
- Sending out weekly bulletins;
- Designing cyber safety notice boards;
- Influencing the school’s online safety and cyber bullying policies;
- Coordinating online safety campaigns;
- Assisting with parent/carer engagement.
Outside of their usual role within schools, Cyber Ambassadors can contribute to consultations surrounding cyber safety issues, create content for the Cyber Ambassador social media platforms and participate in workshops for national days, such as Safer Internet Day.
Additionally, to ensure cyber education and knowledge reaches as many children and young people as possible, the coordinators also deliver online safety workshops to youth organisations and alternative provisions across the county.
The scheme started in September 2018 with a pilot and has now reached 78 junior and primary schools; 35 secondary schools and colleges; 2 SEN schools; and delivered 17 online safety sessions to youth organisations including looked after children.
Interested?
- If you think that this may benefit students in your school, please take a look at the website: https://www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk/cyber-ambassadors or email [email protected] for more information.
A flyer for the scheme can be downloaded CA flyer