UK Coaching to help young people stay safe online

The organisation is supporting the ‘Steering Clear’ campaign, which is jointly led by the Government, Marie Collins Foundation – a charity that supports child victims of online abuse and their families – and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

The campaign seeks to raise awareness of the law that viewing, taking, making and sharing sexual images and videos of anyone under-18 is illegal, even if the person featured looks older.

If indecent content involving under-18s is stumbled across, young people are encouraged to do the right thing by reporting it to the IWF – which they can do anonymously – so the image or video can be removed swiftly, leading to the safeguarding of the victim featured.

“We believe that raising awareness on this topic for coaches will help to protect both young people and coaches alike. The campaign will also reassure coaches that they can take appropriate safeguarding action to protect their participants anonymously.”

“By supporting the campaign via social media and by using our materials to educate its tutors, who in turn train coaches across a range of sports in safeguarding, will help to educate and protect young people who come into contact with this kind of material, and indeed reduce harm to its victims.

“Effects on survivors can be immense; running deep and potentially lasting a lifetime. We all have a role to play in preventing the creation of these images and reduce their proliferation on the internet through education and raising awareness.”

For more information visit stoponlinechildsexualabuse.campaign.gov.uk