Afrikindness Empowers Families Through UKSPF-Funded Digital Safety & Media Literacy Programme

Afrikindness, the award-winning community organisation supporting families and young people from underrepresented communities, has successfully completed its Connecting & Protecting Communities Digital Safety and Media Literacy Programme, equipping parents and young people with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the online world safely.

Delivered over six weeks and supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in partnership with 100% Digital Leeds, the programme responded to growing concerns within communities about online harms, scams, misinformation, and children’s increasing exposure to digital spaces without adequate guidance or support.

The initiative trained 10 community participants through structured sessions covering online safety, misinformation, digital footprints, social media risks, privacy protection, and how parents can support their children’s digital wellbeing at home. Participants were also provided practical resources and tools to share learning within their families and wider community networks, extending the reach of the project to more than 30 families.

Project Highlights

• 6 training sessions delivered
• 10 participants trained
• 6 learning resources developed
• Over 30 parents and young people reached through wider awareness
• 3 facilitators involved
• 5 direct volunteers supporting delivery

The sessions were designed to be culturally responsive and accessible, recognising that many families face additional barriers to digital awareness, including language, trust, and confidence in engaging with online systems and services.

100% Digital Leeds, wrote on LinkedIn:

“It’s been fantastic working with Afrikindness on this project, and it’s wonderful to see the positive impact on the learners who attended these sessions. Rachel Benn has continually fed back to the 100% Digital Leeds team about the amazing trusted relationship Afrikindness has with the people and families you support, and has learned so much from your approach that will inform the final toolkit. Thank you so much for partnering with us on this!”

Bunmi Owolabi, CEO Afrikindness, said:

“Digital exclusion today is not only about access to devices or internet connectivity — it is also about knowledge, confidence, and safety. Many parents want to protect their children online but simply do not know where to start. This programme gave families the tools to ask questions, recognise risks, and support their children with confidence.”

Participants reported significant improvement in their understanding of online safety and misinformation. Parents shared that they now feel more confident identifying scams, protecting personal information, and guiding their children’s use of social media.

One participant commented:

“I used to forward messages without thinking. Now I pause, check, and help my children understand what is safe and what is not online.”

As part of the programme, Afrikindness also developed six practical learning resources and delivered a parent – youth digital safety workshop to directly engage young people in conversations around responsible online behaviour and digital reputation.

The programme was further strengthened by the support of trained facilitators and community volunteers who helped ensure accessibility and participation, particularly for families who may not normally engage with formal training environments.

The participants were proudly awarded Certificates of Participation as well as digital devices and vouchers, recognising their engagement, learning, and successful completion of the digital skills workshop on Misinformation and Disinformation.

This work aligns with Afrikindness’ wider mission to build safer communities, support parents, and improve outcomes for children and young people — particularly within communities that can be underserved by mainstream services.

Afrikindness plans to expand the programme and continue working with partners to address digital inclusion, safeguarding awareness, and family support across communities.

Read our full report to learn more about the impact here: