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Issue:- 1/2 May 2015

Parents not talking to children about right online safety issues

PARENTS may be missing out vital information when they talk to their children about staying safe online, the NSPCC warns. The NSPCC asked more than 600 primary school children what information they needed to stay safe online. More than 80% said online privacy settings on mobile apps and games was a topic they thought their parents should cover in an online safety conversation. And 54% opted for location settings, which can prevent sex offenders tracking children. However, although 80% of parents told the NSPCC in a YouGov poll that they knew what to say to their child to keep them safe online, only 28% had actually mentioned privacy settings to them and just 20% discussed location settings. The charity is now urging parents to make sure their online knowledge is up to date by checking out its updated Net Aware guide, published. Among 12 sites that have now been added to the guide are Tapatalk and Pheed, which many parents may not be familiar with, plus well known games like Call of Duty that allows users to chat online. The latest websites, apps and games featured in Net Aware were reviewed by a panel of parents and all were rated poorly in terms of how easy it was to change privacy settings, report concerns about abuse or bullying, and find safety advice. The guide now covers a total of 60 social networking sites, apps and games popular with children and is free to access online.

Claire Lilley, NSPCC head of child safety online, said:- "If parents aren't talking to children about things like privacy settings on social networking sites it can leave them at risk of online grooming. We've seen horrendous cases where offenders take a scattergun approach, targeting hundreds of children at a time online, often posing as another young person. It's important parents have the knowledge to talk in detail with children about safety settings. Minecraft is one game that is much safer for children once the privacy settings have been adjusted. Our updated Net Aware guide is packed with straightforward advice that will help parents stay up to date with their children's digital lives."

Following the launch of the NSPCC's online safety campaign in January nearly 400,000 parents have spoken to their children about staying safe online. However, it seems that many parents have gaps in their online knowledge and don't talk about the right issues with their children. For example, Tinder, Facebook Messenger, Yik Yak and Snapchat were all rated as risky by children, with the main worry being talking to strangers. However, for the same sites the majority of parents did not recognise that the sites could enable adults to contact children. Parents tended to worry more about sexual or violent content or bad language.

The NSPCC is calling for all social networking sites, apps and games used by children to provide easy ways for children and parents to report abuse, attempts at grooming or concerns about content.

The charity also wants to see all online accounts for under 16's:-

► Block messages from strangers.
► Prevent users making their location or contact details public.
► Set profiles as private by default on sign up.
► Alert children to the risks if they choose make their profile public.

Balfour Beatty helps pupils to bury time capsules on Thornton to Switch Island project

23 children from Grange Primary School in Merseyside were helped by the Balfour Beatty Thornton to Switch Island road bypass project team to preserve their story for the benefit of future generations. The children placed items from their school curriculum, as well as small toys and notes on their hobbies, into time capsules, and with the support of the project team, buried them in a landscaped area which they had helped to plant. The initiative was 1 of a number of ways in which the project team have been working with the local schoolchildren. Other activities Balfour Beatty has organised have included a litter picking project, presentations on environmental issues, providing topsoil for their vegetable gardens, and a project to design their own road.

Shake a Bucket for Bowel Cancer

A leading bowel cancer charity is looking for volunteers to help at a local collection. Beating Bowel Cancer has booked a collection in Southport Town Centre, on 13 June 2015, and is looking for volunteers to help raise vital funds by shaking a bucket for bowel cancer. Beating Bowel Cancer works to save lives from the UK's second biggest cancer killer and all money raised from these fundraising events will be used to help raise awareness of bowel cancer and support patients and their families coping with the disease. Regional Community Fundraiser for the North West, Rachel Thomas, said:- "We are looking for people to give up just a few hours of their day to help Beating Bowel Cancer make a real difference to bowel cancer patients and their families." Anyone interested in helping at these fundraising events should call Rachel on:- 07825 910943 or email her. Bowel cancer is the UK's second biggest cancer killer because many patients are diagnosed too late. Each year more than 41,000 people across the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer. However, if diagnosed early over 90% of cases could be cured. For more information about Beating Bowel Cancer, including ways you can get involved in fundraising for the charity, visit:- BeatingBowelCancer.Org or call:- 08450 719 300.

Friends of St George's Hall - Tea Dance

THE historic venue, St George's Hall, Liverpool, is again hosting another Tea Dance within the Great Hall. The event will have music played live by:- 'The Elderberries' and will take place from 1:30pm to 4pm, on Wednesday, 13 May 2015. Entrance is Ł6 to be paid at door.

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Deceased estates notice - Lilian May Jackam

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925, any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of Lilian May Jackam (also known as Lillian May) Jackam (Deceased), late of Birch Abbey Rest Home, 55 Alexandra Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9HD, UK, who died on 04/10/2018, are required to send particulars thereof in writing, to the undersigned Solicitors, on or before 24/05/2019, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests of which they have had notice. Churches Solicitors, 12 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BL, UK. Ref:- 'T553015.'

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