FREE courses to show people and youngsters they care for how to stay safe online are being offered by North Yorkshire County Council.

There will be sessions in Selby and other areas across the county. For details and to book, go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/adultlearning, call 01609 780780 or email customer.services@northyorks.gov.uk.

The North Yorkshire Adult Learning and Skills Service's sessions are primarily aimed at teaching parents and carers how to keep young people safe online, but anyone concerned about internet safety can go along.

“Internet safety is something we should all be aware of,” said Cllr Janet Sanderson, executive member for Children's Services. “It’s easy for any of us to type in a word by mistake and end up looking at something we shouldn’t, but for parents and carers with young people who are online every day, it can be especially worrying.

“The internet can be a wonderful tool for communication and learning, but young people are particularly at risk when using it, which is why the North Yorkshire Adult Learning and Skills service is putting on courses about how to stay safe online.”

The courses are part of the work being done to support Safeguarding Week across North Yorkshire. This year’s theme is “Safeguarding is everybody’s business” and its aim is to raise awareness of the different forms abuse can take across all age groups – children, young people and adults.

It is also a chance to look at complex issues like protecting young people from abuse online.