Introduction

The Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group has supported an internet safety project which was run in the Alford area by the Alford Health & Wellbeing Group to warn children and parents of the potential dangers of the use of social media and how they can be avoided.

The Project

The Alford Health & Wellbeing Group (made up of a series of local community partners) identified the need to focus on "Internet Safety", both for young people, but also for parents, families and the wider community.

The Garioch & North Marr Community Safety Group provided the financial support to enable the Alford WHIG to go ahead with rolling out a programme of local events during the week beginning Monday 24th March. Education events took place within the local primary schools, through the library, through the detatched work of Community Learning & Development and also at Alford Academy.

A guest speaker Mr Paul Hay, who has been trained to Ambassador Level by CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) and who now runs his own training company, PCLS training, delivered sessions for all S1-S6 pupils and also delivered an evening event targeted at the whole community.

The evening event took place on Thursday 27th March at the Alford Academy Games Hall. It addressed how to keep yourself, your children, your family and your community safe on line. There were stands of information available and guest speakers answered questions and dealt with emerging community issues.

If you would like more information about the event email Dawn Tuckwood ,Public Health Coordinator Marr Area.