online safety

Free Essex Workshops: Spotting Misinformation, Scams and Harmful Content Online

Essex County Council & Connect Futures is promoting a series of free online workshops designed to help people feel safer, more confident, and better informed when navigating online information.

We’re asking partners to help spread the word through newsletters, networks and community channels – and please do encourage onward sharing.

👨‍👩‍👧 Workshops for Parents

Misinformation, Community and Online Safety

These sessions support parents to better understand:

  • What misinformation and disinformation are, and where they’re most commonly encountered

  • How to recognise symbols of hate and misleading online narratives

  • What is legal and illegal online in relation to hate and harmful content

  • Practical ways to talk to children about what they’re seeing online

The workshops are welcoming, interactive and delivered by trained facilitators, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share concerns.
📅 Multiple dates available | ⏱ 90 minutes | 💻 Online | Free to attend

Dates AND REGISTRATION LINK BELOW: (CLICK THE DATE & choose one)
14.01.26 | 12:00 -13:30
14.01.26 | 18:00 -19:30
19.01.26 |12:00 -13:30
19.01.26 | 18:00 -19:30
03.02.26 | 12:00 -13:30
03.02.26 | 18:00 -19:30
12.02.26 | 12:00 -13:30
12.02.26 | 18:00 -19:30
24.02.26 | 12:00 -13:30

👵 Workshops for Older Adults

Spotting Traps, Scams and Misinformation Online

These sessions are designed to help older adults:

  • Spot common tricks used in misleading posts, viral rumours and emotionally charged content

  • Understand how images, headlines and algorithms influence reactions

  • Recognise how scams, fraud and misinformation often overlap

  • Use simple tools to check whether information is trustworthy before sharing

No technical skills are needed – just curiosity. Sessions are friendly, jargon-free and focused on staying safe online.
📅 Multiple dates available | ⏱ 90 minutes | 💻 Online | Free to attend

Dates and Eventbrite registration links include: (choose one date and time )
12.01.26 Online |11:00-12:30 | 13:00 -14:30
29.01.26 Online|11:00-12:30 | 13:00 -14:30
26.02.26 Online|11:00-12:30 | 13:00-14:30

Train-the-Trainer Opportunities

There will also be train-the-trainer sessions (one for each workshop). If you know practitioners or community leaders who may be interested, please get in touch to receive full details. They are also very welcome to attend a standard session first to see how it’s delivered.

Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News, Training

Volunteer with ‘Every Child Online’!

Are you looking to upskill, connect with others, and make a real difference in your community?

Every Child Online is seeking friendly Volunteer Ambassadors to help run our pop-up stalls across Essex.

As a Volunteer Ambassador, you’ll:

  • Promote online safety and digital inclusion

  • Raise awareness of our cause and support fundraising

  • Help children and young people access the tech they need to succeed in school and life

This is a flexible and rewarding opportunity where you can gain digital, client, and event skills, meet new people, and enjoy the satisfaction of helping others.

📢 Sign up today HERE

Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: News, Opportunities

Join Us at the Rayleigh Trinity Fair – Sunday 8th June!

Our Charity Every Child Online & Everyone Digital CIC will be out in full force from 10am–4pm on Rayleigh High Street, and you won’t want to miss us – look out for the bold orange and blue gazebo!
We’re bringing our brand-new setup, our amazing team, and a mission to make a real difference in the community.
Here’s why you should pop by:
📱 Donate Your Old Tech
Have a spare mobile phone, laptop, or tablet gathering dust? Bring it along! Our professional refurbishment team will securely wipe your data, install updated software, and breathe new life into your device before it’s donated to one of our digital inclusion projects. Your tech could change a life!
💻 Learn more about our work: everychildonline.co.uk
🛡️ Get Smart About Online Safety
We’re also raising awareness about online safety. Learn how to protect your children and loved ones from online predators, scammers, and cybercrime – knowledge that could make all the difference.
♻️ Shop Our Upcycled Creations
Browse unique items made by our CRE8 team, who repurpose parts from donated tech into cool creations – plus grab a limited-edition t-shirt while you’re at it!
📢 This is just the beginning…
This is our first community event of many – come show your support, bring your questions, your old devices, and your friends!
✅ Quick Tip Before You Donate:
Please sign out of your accounts and remove passwords from your devices – we can handle it if not, but it makes our job a lot smoother!
📍 See you at the orange and blue gazebo – you can’t miss us!

Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News