Following the launch of Greenford High School’s CyberMentorPLUS project to tackle cyberbullying, several school and community groups across Ealing have enrolled in the programme.

Funded by John Lyon’s Charity, CyberMentorPLUS is aimed at empowering young people online through an extensive training and development programme for staff, pupils, parents and carers.

In preparation for Anti Bullying Week starting 12 November, trained student cybermentors are now busy preparing assemblies and parent workshops to raise awareness of the risks emanating from social media, and to provide guidance on tackling cyberbullying. Watch the video above and gain an insight into what Greenford High School students think about the programme.

Mubina Asaria, Head of Online Safety at Greenford High School and CyberMentorPLUS Coordinator, said: “I’m delighted to say that we have trained up a student taskforce of 180 CyberMentors to provide peer-mentoring across six Ealing schools since launching in January 2018. Our next phase of CyberMentorPLUS is to work with more schools and community groups, training their CyberMentors to run pupil-led online safety workshops for parents and carers, in order to bridge the digital divide. We are also developing a bespoke website to support schools nationally, so watch this space.”

Councillor Yvonne Johnson, cabinet member for schools and children’s services, said: “Having students now lead CyberMentorPLUS shows the understanding and importance the programme has to the younger generation. There have been great advances in highlighting the need for staff, parents and carers to also be aware of the dangers online and we hope the amazing work continues throughout more schools in the borough.”

More information

To find out more about the new CyberMentorPLUS programme or to express an interest in applying, contact Mubina Asaria by email at masaria@greenford.ealing.sch.uk