We need your help to realise the objectives of The Cyber Trust this year.
Please consider making a donation through our Just Giving Charity Account, get in touch with any of our Trustees, or simply email donations@thecybertrust.org – thank you.
Please download our fundraising brochure (PDF) here
The Cyber Trust is registered with The Fundraising Regulator which means we follow their Code of Practice and the Fundraising Promise.
We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Registered Charity number 1171883.
We are registered with HMRC for Gift Aid (you can download a GiftAid declaration), and we have a Just Giving Charity Account to make donations as straightforward as possible.
We are also registered with The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) donation process. If you would rather use BACS or would like to discuss a donation with one of the Trustees, email donations@thecybertrust.org and we will get back to you.
Help us combat online abuse and bullying by donating to the development of our ‘Speak Out’ app
We know that children and young people can become victims to online abuse and bullying, and the promotion of false or misleading information, sometimes with devastating consequences, and that such abuse is growing as young people are spending more time online.
The Cyber Trust was created to help children become safer online. Initially, the Cyber Trust’s work was restricted to Gloucestershire, however after growing demand the decision was made to develop an app for Android, iPhone and iPad devices. Known as ‘SpeakOut!’, the app covers a range of relevant subjects, specifically for pupils transitioning from primary to secondary schools which is seen to be a critical time in the development of young people.
Many of the schools which would benefit from using such our app are finding it difficult to raise funds for such learning, so we decided to make it free.
The Cyber Trust has worked collaboratively with various partners including schools, statutory and business organisations, and with a group of computing technologies and gaming research students at the University of Gloucestershire to develop the app, initially concentrating on the topics of bullying and grooming. Storylines on body image and fake news were subsequently added, and most recently on racism and sexting.
We have undergone rigorous testing as the app is developed; it has been trialled with young people in a school setting at Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre and Guiding for Gloucestershire, and has been well received. In fact, many pupils commented that they liked the innovative approach and did not have experience of any other such material. We have had some informative feedback, and have decided that the app would best be used in a classroom/group setting with an accompanying ‘Teacher’s Pack’ / ‘Leaders Pack’ for use by facilitators.
Having market tested the initial app we are now keen to develop a second phase with new story lines and more features, and are also promoting the app nationally through The Cyber Security Challenge‘s partnership with The National Crime Agency in Cybergames. The app is available through the Google Play and Apple App Stores, and we are hoping as we further develop the initial version that we could update it to reflect sponsors, donors and supporter’s logos.
We have involved the Gloucestershire Constabulary Cyber Protect Safeguarding Team, the NPCC and Child Friendly Gloucestershire in providing advice and the rollout will be supported by these and other supportive organisations. Gloucestershire Guiding has partnered with The Trust and will work with us on developing new scenarios, and have created a Badge called the SpeakOut! Challenge badge.
We continue to seek contributions to the development and extension of this work:
Following the initial release of SpeakOut! (Phase 1) we are now looking to raise additional funding from donations and sponsorship for a further phase of work (Phase 2). This expenditure will improve the quality of the app in response to user feedback, create new story lines, develop an accompanying teacher’s pack and a companion website, as well as expanding the scope (all ages), scale (not limited to internet safety) and accessibility as Phase 2 goals. We have seconded an academic course leader and lecturer from The University of Gloucestershire on sabbatical for 2022/23 to help.
The trustees intend to use our connections and existing relationships to ensure that as many schools and children as possible get access to the app. In-house expertise in marketing, social media, design, development and project management will continue to be used, cutting administrative overheads to the bare minimum. You can make a donation through our Just Giving Charity Account, by getting in touch with any of our Trustees or emailing donations@thecybertrust.org
Future plans and development:
We will be looking to raise further sums to continue the development and breadth of the app and to reach children throughout the UK. We are also close to and liaising with The Child Online Protection team at the International Telecommunication Union (A UN Organisation) and their parallel development of Child Online Protection services and technology: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Cybersecurity/Pages/COP/COP.aspx
We want to cover a wider range of topics which would have relevance for other age groups throughout the country. The topics deal with Cyber risks in three main groups:
1. threats to the individual – covering such issues as grooming, sexting, hate crime, in-game threats and identity theft;
2. threats to family – communities and democracy, dealing with extremism, fake news and social engineering; and
3. Legal and ethical issues – covering digital forensics, social media, data security and encryption, and artificial intelligence.
The challenges faced by young people are complex and the threats are growing, so finding ways to inform young people and prepare them for what they might face in the future is why the Trust started this project – to put a safety device into their hands, on their own mobile device.