Safeguarding Week 2025 – Online Harm: Keeping Yourself and Others Safe

Safeguarding Week 2025 is a national annual campaign taking place from Monday November 10 to Friday November 14. This year, the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board is focusing on the theme Online Harm: Keeping Yourself and Others Safe.

Throughout the week, we will be raising awareness across Merthyr Tydfil about the risks of online harm and abuse, and how individuals can protect themselves and others in digital spaces.

What is Online Harm and Abuse?

Online harm refers to the risks and abuse people may encounter through digital platforms. It can affect anyone regardless of age or background and often occurs in everyday spaces such as social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, and websites.

Types of online harm include:

• Social and Emotional Abuse: Cyberbullying, online harassment, cyberstalking, doxxing.
• Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Grooming, coercion, non-consensual sharing of explicit images (also known as revenge porn), deepfakes.
• Harmful Online Content: Hate speech, extremist material, dangerous online challenges.
• Scams and Financial Fraud: Phishing, romance scams, investment scams.

Safeguarding Week is a dedicated time to shine a spotlight on the issues that affect the safety and wellbeing of individuals in our communities. By focusing on online harm, we aim to raise awareness of the risks people face in digital spaces while empowering them with the knowledge to stay safe.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, whether you are a parent, carer, professional, or member of the public. This week is an opportunity to learn, share, and take action to protect ourselves and others.

Cllr Louise Minett-Vokes, Cabinet Member for Social Care, Health & Youth Participation commented: “In today's digital world, protecting ourselves and our loved ones goes far beyond physical boundaries. Safeguarding Week is our opportunity to equip everyone with the knowledge and tools to navigate digital spaces safely and confidently.”

Local Events

During the week, several events will be happening across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg area. Those open to the general public include:

Tuesday, November 11

Cybercrime – Digital Stalking and Harassment (including Violence Against Women and Girls) – South Wales Police, 10am–11am, online

This presentation will introduce Cybercrime and its evolution of the years. It will highlight the impact on Digital Stalking and Harassment and additionally provide an explanation of what can be done to assist in the combat against Violence Against Women and Girls. This session is suitable for professionals, clients and general members of the public who wish to understand the challenges of technology enabled stalking and harassment.

To book a place, please do so via this link.

Social Media and Substance Use – Barod and Choices, 10am-12pm, YMa Pontypridd (28 Taff St, CF37 4TS)

A 2-hour training session to explore the changing world of social media platforms and their influence on substance use. The session will cover how drugs are obtained and sold online, the role of online forums and chatrooms, and how these digital spaces can link to county lines activity. We will also highlight practical strategies for keeping safe online. For parents/carers and professionals.

To book a place, please do so via this link.

Digital Resilience – Lucy Faithfull Foundation, 10am-11am, online

As technology and the internet changes, so does the risk to children. Explore how to keep children and young people safe online. Increase your confidence in communicating about internet safety. Understand legislation, concerning behaviours online, and consider the development of a digital safety plan. Open to parents/cares.

To book a place, please do so via this link.

Wednesday, November 12

Protecting Children Online – Adferiad, 2pm-4pm, online

A session for practitioners and parents/carers on protecting children and young people online, which will cover the following:

• How children use technology and the risks
• Gaming/loot boxes/in app purchases etc
• Social media and buying drugs through Apps
• Bullying online and the impact
• Online radicalisation and extremism.

To book a place, please do so via this link.

Thursday, November 13

Online Harm: Keeping Yourself and Others Safe – Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board, 10am-4pm, Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre Hub (3 Newmarket Walk, CF47 8EL)

An in-person community event being held in Merthyr Tydfil town centre to provide people with information on how to keep yourself and others safe online. There will be many organisations at the event, representing various services. Open to all.

For information on this event, please contact ctmsafeguarding@rctcbc.gov.uk.

Online Fraud Awareness – BAVO, 10.30am-11.45am, online

Information Session Delivered by Tarian, South Wales Police. Open to all.

To book a place, please do so via this link.

Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness – Lucy Faithfull Foundation, 6pm-7.30pm, online

Understand how and why child sexual exploitation happens. Explore risk factors, signs and indicators. Learn where to get help and how positive preventative action can help protect children and young people from exploitation. Open to parents/carers.

To book a place, please do so via this link.

Friday, November 14

Social Media and Substance Use – Barod and Choices, 10am-12pm, Cynon Linc, Seymour Street, Aberdare, CF44 7BD

A 2-hour training session to explore the changing world of social media platforms and their influence on substance use. The session will cover how drugs are obtained and sold online, the role of online forums and chatrooms, and how these digital spaces can link to county lines activity. We will also highlight practical strategies for keeping safe online. Open to parents/carers.

To book a place, please do so via this link.

A full programme of events can be found here.