Youth Ambassadors spearhead the fight against online grooming in Sussex

A pioneering, youth-led initiative continues to gain momentum across Sussex, empowering young people to protect themselves and their peers from online grooming.

In 2025, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne partnered with the Breck Foundation to launch an ambitious Youth Ambassador programme aimed at raising awareness of online grooming among Sussex school children.

Through peer-to-peer sessions, students shared the tragic story of 14 year-old Breck Bednar while equipping their classmates with the knowledge and confidence to recognise and respond to the warning signs of online grooming.

The programme has already delivered powerful results. In its first year alone, 48 Youth Ambassadors from 14 local schools personally led 40 assemblies, reaching more than 6,500 young people.

The impact of the Ambassadors didn’t stop there. Demonstrating remarkable initiative, the Youth Ambassadors went further by creating and embedding seven new safeguarding lesson plans into their schools’ curricula – helping to reshape how education settings approach online safety and student protection.

This success was celebrated on 30 June 2026 at the University of Brighton, where students, parents, educators and partners gathered to honour the achievements of the first cohort of Ambassadors and welcome the next group who will be officially stepping forward in September.

With the new intake, Sussex now boasts 88 trained Youth Ambassadors, forming a growing, youth-led network dedicated to keeping young people safe online.

The event showcased the inspiring work of the Ambassadors, with awards including ‘Voice of Change’ and ‘Youth Ambassador of the Year’ recognising outstanding contributions to the programme. In a symbolic handover, the original cohort formally welcomed the new group, passing on the responsibility of carrying forward Breck’s legacy.

Speaking at the event, PCC Katy Bourne said: “I have an immense sense of pride in our Youth Ambassadors for all they have achieved over the past year - they are powerful role models for our next cohort to follow.

“Peer-to-peer education is one of the most effective ways to equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to face the risks they encounter today. I am delighted that I am able to fund and support this work through my office.

“I have every faith that our new cohort will continue to champion Breck’s legacy and make a lasting difference for young people across Sussex.

“As the programme enters its second year, we are building a stronger, youth-driven defence against online harm - one conversation, one classroom and one Ambassador, at a time.”

Erica Thornton, CEO Breck Foundation said:

"I could not be prouder of our Youth Ambassadors. Over the past year, they have exceeded every expectation, growing into confident advocates for online safety and finding innovative, creative ways to engage their peers with this vital message. Their passion, commitment and willingness to lead by example have been truly inspiring.

"None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of Katy Bourne and the team at the Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner. They have been an outstanding partner throughout this journey, believing in the project from the very beginning and helping us create opportunities that are making a genuine difference to young people's lives.

"I also want to pay special tribute to Giselle Wild, the beating heart of the Youth Ambassador Project. Her dedication, expertise and unwavering support have been instrumental in its success. From carefully selecting an exceptional group of young people to mentoring and encouraging them every step of the way, Giselle has helped create something truly special. Thanks to her leadership, the project continues to go from strength to strength, and we are delighted to be embarking on another year together."

Giselle Wild, Project Co-ordinator reflected on the event: “The YA Celebration event was just that - a brilliant reflection on all of Cohort 1’s achievements, and a big welcome to Cohort 2s in anticipation of the wonderful waves they will make in the online safety world. It was so powerful to see them all together, all with their eyes on the prize. A very special group of young people indeed and I feel honoured to be able to support them on their journey!”