Online risks and safety are set to be discussed by young people and professionals in a youth awareness session in Cherrywood area next week (Dec 9).

The training, organised jointly by Barnardo’s, Rushmoor Borough Council’s Community Development team, and, the North East Hampshire Domestic Abuse Forum, aims to raise awareness of grooming, sexual abuse and other forms of risk-taking behaviour in order to improve the safety of young people online.

The content will include DVD clips, workshop sessions and informal discussions, led by facilitators, to an audience of 11-19 year-olds attending local youth provisions, in Farnborough. The facilitators will be exploring risk with young people, how they perceive and feel about taking risks and relating it to sexual abuse and grooming. The young people will watch a video and discuss events as the scenes in the video progress. The session is part of a programme of educational activities for young people attending the club.

Cllr Ken Muschamp, Rushmoor Borough Council Cabinet Member for Business, Safety and Regulation, said: “I am delighted to see the issue of risky online behaviour being tackled in this positive way, and I hope it is the first of many similar sessions to be held across the borough.”

Cllr John Kennett, Chair of the Safer North Hampshire* Partnership, said: “It is important that awareness is raised of the potential consequences of risk-taking behaviour so we can increase the safety of young people online. Young people do not always consider how they can know if someone they meet online is who they say they are or are not sufficiently wary of sending photographs they would not want shared. The joint-working is very welcome, and we hope to see many other sessions being delivered to local youth clubs and community groups in the future.”
• The Friday Night Youth Club is open for young people to drop in and meet friends, play music and games and enjoy food. Activities available include games, pool, table tennis, table football, air hockey, arts and crafts and music. The youth club is for young people aged 11 – 19 years and is based at the Prospect Community Centre, Mayfield Road (near the junction with Totland Close). It runs from 5pm to 7.30pm. To find out more, contact Rushmoor Borough Council on 01252 398128.