Online safety seminar in Perth

An event to help children stay safe online is to be held in Perth.

The free online safety seminar “Getting it Right, Keeping Your Child Safe”will take place at Perth Playhouse on Thursday, March 1.

The event, which is for parents and carers, social work, education and childcare professionals, and members of the public, aims to raise awareness of the current challenges to keeping children safe online.

Some of the speakers expected to attend the event include Tink Palmer MBE, chief executive of the Marie Collins Foundation, a UK charity for children who have suffered sexual abuse and exploitation through the internet to recover, and Charlotte Aynsley, director of E-Safety training and consultancy.

Superintendent Paul Betts from West Midlands Police and Michael Conlon, Education Scotland’s digital skills officer, will also be talking at the event.

Cllr Caroline Shiers, lifelong learning convener at Perth and Kinross Council, said:“The digital world is something our children and young people are very familiar with and probably feel more comfortable with than their parents and older relatives.

“However, understanding the risks that it presents, and how we can best guide and help protect them from online dangers, is vital for adults who care for, or work with children and young people on a daily basis.”

The sessions at Perth Playhouse are available from 9.30am until 11.30am, and again from 1pm until 3pm. An evening session will then be held from 5.30pm until 7.30pm.

The seminars are open to anyone over the age of 16 and can be booked by calling Catriona Scobbie on 01738 477861.