Child protection

We work with charities and employees to raise awareness and provide practical advice and support on child protection.

Our 100 plus Children’s Champions, all volunteers, continued to spread the child safety message to our customers during the year. 

With Childnet International we help parents avoid risks to children from mobile phones. In close consultation with the charity, we have developed a dedicated website for parents ( www.o2.co.uk/protectourchildren).

In 2008 we co-commissioned a new children’s book with Childnet and the National Literacy Trust. Available through primary schools from early 2009, it informs children about internet safety and supports their reading skills.

Together with others in the industry and our parent company, we have created a website containing special resources for teachers ( www.teachtoday.eu).

We also sponsor Money Matters and Mobile, a teacher’s resource published by the Personal Finance Education Group (pfeg). Aimed at children aged 9-11, this helps them understand the financial aspects of mobile use.

Prison Me No Way!

We help youth at risk by supporting the HM Prison Services’ campaign Prison, Me – No Way! (www.pmnw.co.uk). Officers and O2 employees visit schools to show hundreds of young people why they should avoid getting into trouble with the law by simulating prison conditions in schools for a day.

We take this opportunity to provide tips on mobile phone safety, theft avoidance, and what to do when being harassed or bullied.