Make Blackpool, Fleetwood & Thornton-Cleveleys the UK's first Safer Online Towns
The Issue
When something goes wrong online, our children need help straight away
It’s 11pm on a Saturday. A 14-year-old gets a message: send money, or a picture goes to everyone they know. School is closed. Their mum doesn’t know who to call. By morning, it may be too late.
This happens to children across the UK every week. Online harm, from sextortion and bullying to grooming and harmful content, doesn’t stop at 3.30pm. It happens at night, at weekends and in the holidays, when children and families have nowhere to turn. And it’s starting younger, with primary school children now online every day.
Our young people are already at higher risk
Young people in Blackpool face almost double the England rate of suicide, and self-harm admissions well above the national average. Online harm is a known and growing part of that risk.
What we’re asking for
We’re asking local leaders to make Blackpool, Fleetwood and Thornton-Cleveleys the UK’s first Safer Online Towns, by funding 24/7 help from Cybernetic Shield for every child and young person, parent, carer and member of school staff:
a 24/7 Cyber Incident Helpline, 365 days a year, answered by trained professionals, not a chatbot
specialist online harm investigators and qualified psychologists when a case is serious
prevention lessons in every school, from primary to sixth form, and guidance for families
support that works alongside schools, the police and the NHS
Cybernetic Shield already does this for schools and families in Australia. We want our towns to be the first in the UK.
Why sign
Whether you’re a parent, carer, grandparent, teacher, coach or young person, your signature shows local leaders that our community wants this. With enough support, we can secure the local funding to make it happen, and lead the way for the rest of the country.
Please sign and share. Our children shouldn’t face this alone.
If a child needs help now: Childline 0800 1111 or Samaritans 116 123. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Started by Paul Wright, Alliance 4 Children, in partnership with Cybernetic Shield.
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The Issue
When something goes wrong online, our children need help straight away
It’s 11pm on a Saturday. A 14-year-old gets a message: send money, or a picture goes to everyone they know. School is closed. Their mum doesn’t know who to call. By morning, it may be too late.
This happens to children across the UK every week. Online harm, from sextortion and bullying to grooming and harmful content, doesn’t stop at 3.30pm. It happens at night, at weekends and in the holidays, when children and families have nowhere to turn. And it’s starting younger, with primary school children now online every day.
Our young people are already at higher risk
Young people in Blackpool face almost double the England rate of suicide, and self-harm admissions well above the national average. Online harm is a known and growing part of that risk.
What we’re asking for
We’re asking local leaders to make Blackpool, Fleetwood and Thornton-Cleveleys the UK’s first Safer Online Towns, by funding 24/7 help from Cybernetic Shield for every child and young person, parent, carer and member of school staff:
a 24/7 Cyber Incident Helpline, 365 days a year, answered by trained professionals, not a chatbot
specialist online harm investigators and qualified psychologists when a case is serious
prevention lessons in every school, from primary to sixth form, and guidance for families
support that works alongside schools, the police and the NHS
Cybernetic Shield already does this for schools and families in Australia. We want our towns to be the first in the UK.
Why sign
Whether you’re a parent, carer, grandparent, teacher, coach or young person, your signature shows local leaders that our community wants this. With enough support, we can secure the local funding to make it happen, and lead the way for the rest of the country.
Please sign and share. Our children shouldn’t face this alone.
If a child needs help now: Childline 0800 1111 or Samaritans 116 123. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Started by Paul Wright, Alliance 4 Children, in partnership with Cybernetic Shield.
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Petition created on 27 October 2026