South West Grid for Learning celebrated its 25th anniversary with a landmark event at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, bringing together partners, colleagues, and supporters to reflect on the organisation’s journey and achievements throughout the years. The day honoured SWGfL’s pioneering role in online safety, its global influence, and the people whose dedication has shaped our mission: ensuring that everyone can benefit from technology, free from harm.
From Broadband to Global Impact
The event began with an opening address from Ken Corish, who traced SWGfL’s origins from its early days delivering broadband to schools in the South West to becoming a leader in safeguarding and online safety. He highlighted milestone moments (the first safeguarding case in 2003, the launch of the UK Safer Internet Centre in 2011, and the creation of tools like 360 Degree Safe and ProjectEVOLVE) all of which have had national and international impact.
Ken reminded the audience that while technology has changed dramatically, SWGfL’s purpose has remained constant: empowering schools and communities to thrive safely within digital spaces.
A Day in the Life: Assisted Monitoring
Following Ken, Libbie Turner spoke about the Assisted Monitoring Service, which works directly with schools to flag harmful or concerning online behaviour. She described the stark reality of the captures the team reviews daily, from harmless searches to alarming cries for help, such as searches about how to harm oneself.
Last year alone, the service monitored more than 1.1 million captures, escalating over 2,000 safeguarding concerns to schools. Libbie emphasised that each number represents a child and a chance for meaningful intervention, underlining the service’s crucial role in protecting young people.
Voices from the Helplines
The focus then shifted to SWGfL’s helpline services, with Jess from the Revenge Porn Helpline offering a candid glimpse into the day-to-day work of the team. She shared the story of “Hannah,” a caller whose intimate images had been shared online without her knowledge. Jess explained how the helpline provided reassurance, legal guidance, and swift action to have the content removed, reflecting our impressive 90% takedown rate.
She also highlighted the emotional challenges staff face, but spoke of the immense reward in helping victims regain control and dignity.
The Journey is Far From Over
David Wright, CEO of SWGfL, followed with a speech that looked towards the future while honouring the past. He celebrated the partnerships that have defined SWGfL, including the UK Safer Internet Centre, and paid tribute to figures such as Ron Richards and Laura Higgins whose vision and action have helped shaped the organisation.
David spotlighted the extraordinary growth of the helplines, from 1,600 cases in 2019 to over 22,000 in 2024, and discussed global initiatives such as StopNCII.org, which has prevented tens of thousands of harmful images from being shared online. He also noted SWGfL’s growing role on the international stage, including work with the United Nations to influence global cybercrime policy. Reflecting on 25 years of change, David reaffirmed the organisation’s mission: “Everyone should benefit from technology, free from harm.”
Celebrating Excellence: The SWGfL Awards
The event concluded with the SWGfL 25-Year Awards, recognising both external partners and internal champions. The winners were:
- Commitment Towards Safeguarding Award – ARK
- Online Safety Champion Award – St Marks Primary School (Weston Super Mare)
- Commitment Towards Positive Change Award – Laura Higgins
- SWGfL Pioneer Award – Ron Richards
- Partnership Award – IWF and Childnet
Internal awards celebrated SWGfL’s own team members, including:
- Impact Award – Sophie Mortimer
- Hero Award – Louiza Youlzari
- Champion Award – Christine Ship
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Ken Corish
As we look towards the future, our legacy of innovation, collaboration, and safeguarding ensures it will remain at the forefront of creating safer online experiences for all.
David Wright CBE CEO of SWGfL said:
Reaching 25 years is not just about looking back at what we’ve achieved, but recognising the people that have made it possible. SWGfL has always been about evolving and adapting towards the digital needs of the world and today we celebrate a community of colleagues, schools, and partners who believe in the same mission: that everyone should benefit from technology, free from harm. This milestone is a tribute to their dedication, and a reminder that our work is far from over, we’ve only just begun.
