National Children’s Day 2023 - Play Virtual, Live Real
National Children’s Day 2023 exists to highlight the essential need for all children to have a healthy childhood where their rights,...
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"The Breck Foundation sessions were our highest scoring sessions, both for overall marks and in terms of giving people actionable advice"
- A global financial services
Breck Foundation corporate partner
Helping Young People Reclaim the Internet
“I learned from the Breck Foundation what the word grooming meant and what impact it can have on people who are affected by it.”
- Kai, age 11.
“I learned all the signs of grooming and I think it was very helpful as I can tell my friends outside of school about it and feel safer. It was scary but I know how to be aware of it now.”
Year 6 pupil.
By donating £5 a month you can protect a whole class of primary school children with online safety lessons
#PlayVirtual #LiveReal
In today’s society, it is often difficult for young people to recognise the need for separation and balance between the online world and the real one.
Blurring the lines between reality and digital leaves children more vulnerable to online abuse, grooming, radicalisation and all kinds of extortion.
We teach an ethos of #PlayVirtual #LiveReal, encouraging young people to recognise that the friends they make online are not like their real-life friends.
Our campaign aims to spark a shift in mindset and cultivate healthy habits that promote a harmonious blend of technology and offline experiences.
Why we need to #LiveReal
#PlayVirtual #LiveReal means addressing the balance between your online and offline worlds. It is all about making sure that you are safe when having fun in the digital space whilst also having an offline life firmly rooted in reality.
Over the last 20 years, there has been a meteoric rise in children and young people’s online and digital engagement and with it we have witnessed a corresponding increase in online safety issues and threats.
In the year 2000, only 26% of the UK population went online. By 2021, 99% of UK children were active internet users. According to Ofcom, most parents with children under the age of 16 are worried about the type of content their child sees online, including violence, bad language, and sexual acts. Due to the ever-evolving digital landscape, we are facing an increasing number of unregulated online spaces that predators, groomers, scammers, and anyone seeking to cause harm can use.
It is children and young people who, in our shared online world, are most at risk.
Learn more and explore the issues:
Why we need to #LiveReal
Contact your MP
Contact your MP
Writing to politicians is a fantastic way to be a part of raising awareness of the online safety issues that are facing real people in the UK today. It lets politicians know that we care about making the internet a safer place for the next generation.
It’s quick and easy to write to your MP, it also helps your MP represent the things that matter to you and your family in Parliament where wide-scale changes can be made.
It’s your MP’s job to make sure what matters to you is taken seriously in Parliament whether you voted for them or not. Although it might seem daunting to contact your MP, they work for you.
You can find out who your local MP is and how to contact them by using www.theyworkforyou.com or you can call the House of Commons Information Office on 020 7219 4272.
Download and use this template to help you contact your MP.
Live Real with a
Breck Walk
Join our mission by organising a meaningful walk alongside your friends, family, school class, or neighbours, as we come together to raise funds and continue our mission of reaching children with the #PlayVirtual #LiveReal ethos!
Whether you opt for a leisurely 1-mile stroll or an ambitious 26-mile trek, the choice of distance is entirely yours, for the Big Breck walk is designed to be inclusive and accessible to all.
By signing up to host a walk in your local area, you can inspire the entire family to step outside and make a positive impact for a great cause. Let's embark on this journey together!
Use these buttons to take you through the steps to hold a Big Breck Walk
Host a Breck Walk
#LiveReal media
Another great way to get involved in the campaign is to write an article for us about your experiences with the digital world and the ways in which you choose to #LiveReal everyday.
Email your articles, blogs or vlogs to media@breckfoundation.org
#LiveReal Media
Activities for schools and families
Activities for schools and families
We want as many children and young adults to learn about the message of #Play Virtual #Live Real as possible, so we can empower the next generation to avoid online abuse, exploitation and radicalisation.
The activity pack includes educational resources for staying safe online, tech-free challenges and #LiveReal posters/social media assets.
Download #PlayVirtual #LiveReal resources:
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