Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope this message finds you well.
We would like to draw your attention to two important opportunities to support the well-being of our young people in the digital world:
1. Invitation to a Zoom Meeting: Brighton & Hove Citizens Commission into the Impact of Social Media on Young People's Mental Health
You are warmly invited to join a structured listening session co-hosted by Varndean College alongside other Brighton & Hove schools and colleges involved in working with Brighton & Hove Citizens.
This event will bring together parents and carers from across the city to:
- Hear about the impact of Brighton & Hove Citizens' work across the city,
- Discuss the impact of social media on the well-being of young people.
- Imagine recommendations to be put forward to Peter Kyle MP (Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology) regarding how social media companies can better support young people.
We strongly encourage all parents and carers to attend and share their views.
Date: Wednesday 7th May 2025
Time: 20:00-21:00
Location: Zoom (online)
Registration:
To attend, please register via this link: Register Here
As well as listening to parents and carers, separate events will take place throughout May, involving thousands of young people and hundreds of school and College staff.
This listening process will be the largest of its kind in the UK and will specifically focus on recommendations which make social media companies more accountable to the needs of our young people, our families and communities.
2. Free Parent Resources from Smoothwall
Following recent discussions around the Netflix series Adolescence, Smoothwall has produced a set of free resources to help parents and carers support their children's digital wellbeing.
These resources include:
- Practical advice and conversation starters,
- Guidance on setting boundaries around screen time,
- Support for managing upsetting online content.
The resources are free, and you can access them here: Smoothwall Parent Resources - Adolescence
We hope you find these opportunities helpful as we work together to ensure the digital well-being and safety of all our young people.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Best Wishes,
Lisa Watkin-Stevens
Vice-Principal
