Back of person wearing a hoodie working on a laptop

The project worked with young people and professionals supporting them to tackle the risk factors that can lead young people towards violent extremism.

7 February 2023

3 minutes

takes place on Tuesday 7 February and in Portsmouth, the citys University and Council have joined forces to help keep young people safe from online violent political extremism, hate crimes, misinformation and cybercrime.

The two organisations have been the UK lead on (Offline and online Radicalization Prevention Holding back Extremism and Upholding Security). The EU-funded project worked with young people and professionals supporting them to tackle the risk factors that can lead young people towards violent extremism.

The project provided training and support for youth workers, teachers and other professionals working with children and young people. The 窪蹋勛圖s Cybercrime Awareness Clinic co-developed two training programmes in collaboration with project partners from 窪蹋勛圖City Councils Hidden Harm and Exploitation team and  partners in Belgium, France and the Netherlands.  The training programme are available for download from the .

It's hard to tell what's real and what's not these days, images, video and information is so easily manipulated. This makes it even more crucial for young people and the professionals who safeguard them to be aware of the possible online threats.

Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, Director of the Cybercrime Awareness Clinic

Over 400 young people in 窪蹋勛圖and surrounding areas were engaged in project. They took part in safe space sessions, where they could discuss topics and address grievances they couldnt talk about anywhere else. They also received cyber awareness training to increase online safety and build resilience to emotional manipulation and grooming.

Dr Annie Kirby, Research Associate from the Cybercrime Awareness Clinic, said: Safer Internet Day is such an important opportunity to promote the use of digital technology in a safer and more responsible way.

We put children and young peoples voices at the heart of the project and encouraged them to shape the online safety support that they receive. It is especially important to establish and maintain active dialogue with young people to ensure that young peoples voices are heard and acted upon, helping to prevent polarisation and social alienation, two risk factors for violent extremism.

We put children and young peoples voices at the heart of the project and encouraged them to shape the online safety support that they receive. It is especially important to establish and maintain active dialogue with young people to ensure that young peoples voices are heard and acted upon, helping to prevent polarisation and social alienation, two risk factors for violent extremism.

Dr Annie Kirby, Research Associate in the Cybercrime Awareness Clinic

The four-year Project Orpheus launched in 2019 with eight partners from the UK, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, funded by the European Union Commission .

Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, Director of the Cybercrime Awareness Clinic, said: It's vital that young people are vigilant when using digital devices and accessing information online and through their phones. It's hard to tell what's real and what's not these days, images, video and information is so easily manipulated. This makes it even more crucial for young people and the professionals who safeguard them to be aware of the possible online threats.