06/06/2023 - Free digital skills service launches in Luton

With Parent Zone Local, parents and professionals can find free activities, guides and advice that build media literacy – learning about data and sharing, online environments, content and relationships, online and offline consequences, and how to make a positive contribution. Everything is designed to help address the challenges of raising children in a digital world.

Parent Zone is an organisation that specialises in accessible education and services to support digital family life. It has partnered with Google, Barnardo’s, the Home Office and Children in Need, to create programmes for families, educators and professionals.

Following a successful 2021 pilot in four London boroughs, Parent Zone is now expanding the Parent Zone Local service to eight local authorities, including Luton. It is supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) media literacy taskforce fund.

Commenting on the launch, Vicki Shotbolt, CEO and Founder of Parent Zone, said, “We are delighted to be launching our Parent Zone Local programme in Luton. It’s tough being a parent in the digital age, and access to advice and practical support isn’t always simple. We hope that by bringing our service right to families’ doorsteps, this programme can make a real difference to the parents and carers of Luton.

Cllr Hazel Simmons MBE, Leader of Luton Council, added: “This new service will be a great support to every parent in Luton, helping them get the knowledge and skills to keep their children safe online.”

The service includes free webinars for parents, carers and professionals which are now available to stream. 

There will be more webinars every month with the next one on Tuesday 20 June, 4:30pm - Everyday Digital: Disinformation.