Almost 70 primary school pupils have performed a brand-new play to a packed audience of professionals, marking the grand finale of the NSPCC’s Doncaster Online Safety campaign.

The 18-month Doncaster Safety Net campaign – led by the NSPCC, Well Doncaster, Citizens Advice and Doncaster Public Health – has reached nearly 6,000 children, parents and professionals, all with the goal of helping families keep children safe in an ever-changing online world.

Launched in April 2024, the multi-agency campaign set out to give parents and carers the tools and confidence to support their children online.

Since then, it has delivered interactive workshops, free online resources, and an event for childcare professionals across the city.

Doncaster youngsters took part in a production at Cast.

placeholder image — Doncaster youngsters took part in a production at Cast.

A highlight of the campaign was a tour of The Net: Sam’s Story – a specially commissioned stage show about sharing images, teaching online safety in primary schools.

This week, young people from schools across Doncaster took the message into their own hands by performing in the world premiere of Sofa Surfing: An Online Story at Cast Theatre – written and produced by NK Theatre Arts, the all-inclusive theatre company for children, young people and adults.

The play and its specially commissioned song explore the dangers children face online and encourage families to “be curious, not furious” if a child raises a concern about something they’ve seen or experienced.

In collaboration with pupils, Stainforth Online Safety, part of the Doncaster Safety Net, has also produced a safety leaflet and video featuring schoolchildren.

The production focused on online safety.

Gail Sayles, NSPCC Local Campaigns Manager for the region, said: “One of the aims of this campaign was to help parents and carers feel confident when talking with children about online safety.

“It’s been fabulous to see young people at the forefront of this work, sharing important messages in such a creative way.

"What started as a local campaign will soon go national, with new resources to help even more families start those vital conversations at home. The play script, teaching resources and the amazing song featured in the play will soon be on the NSPCC learning website.”

The performance was followed by a powerful talk from Jasmine* (not real name) one of the NSPCC’s lived experience advocates, who shared how intimate videos of her had been illegally shared by a partner when she was younger.

The production at cast involved 70 primary school children.

Jasmine* said: “I’m proud that I survived and rebuilt my life. It took time, therapy, and the right support, but I’ve turned things around and am now doing my dream job. I still have tough days, but I use my experience to help others and to raise awareness about how serious this kind of abuse can be.”

The event also featured insights from the NSPCC’s local Childline team and the Internet Watch Foundation, which gave a keynote on the rise of AI-generated abuse and its growing impact online. The NSPCC also outlined how the new Online Safety Act, which the charity helped campaign for, will affect professionals and local businesses across Doncaster.

Karen Seaman, Public Health Improvement Coordinator and Lead for Shaping Stainforth and the Doncaster Safeguarding Children Partnership, said: “This campaign shows the power of partnership. The creativity of young people and the commitment of professionals across Doncaster have made online safety a real community priority.”

Sally Jameson MP, Member of Parliament for Doncaster Central, said: “I’ve been so impressed by the dedication shown by everyone involved – from the children and teachers to the NSPCC and local partners. Campaigns like this make a real difference, helping families stay informed and children stay safe online.”

To find out more about the Doncaster Safety Net campaign, visit www.dscp.org.uk/parents-carers or email [email protected].