A new safeguarding app will now be available to parents and carers in Northern Ireland. The Safer Schools app has been offered to the Department by the iNEQE Safeguarding Group’, run by Jim Gamble
Parents and carers will be able access advice on information on social media platforms popular with their children and their friends.
The ‘Safer Schools’ app focuses on safeguarding particularly in the online world and also provides information and messaging on a full range of safeguarding and child protection issues.
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of iNEQE Safeguarding Group said: “Whether Zooming, chatting on WhatsApp groups or playing games on HouseParty, everyone, young and old seems to be going online and to be clear I am in no doubt that if done safely that’s a good thing. Technology can play a key part in making sure that social distancing doesn’t compound the pressures many face by making them feel socially isolated.
“As the founding CEO of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, I know that balancing the opportunities and safeguarding challenges in the digital environment is never easy. That is why this Department of Education’s initiative is so important. Download the App and no matter who you are you’ll be better equipped to play your part in making our children safer.”
The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. To log in, scan the QR code or enter the code 7440.