General Account of Activities and Community Benefit (Financial Year 2025–2026) During the financial year, the Digital Safety CIC delivered a wide-ranging programme of activity focused on improving digital safety, online wellbeing, and cyber resilience across communities, education settings, public-sector organisations, and professional groups. The organisation’s work is centred on ensuring that individuals and organisations can engage with technology safely, confidently, and responsibly, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to digital harm. The company drew on the combined expertise of its team, which includes backgrounds in law enforcement, cyber security, security architecture, technical systems engineering, project management, and software development. This multidisciplinary capability enabled the delivery of practical, real-world digital safeguarding and security frameworks that address both technical risks and human factors. These frameworks were designed to support vulnerable individuals, including young people, those with low digital literacy, people with learning difficulties or disabilities, and individuals facing barriers to accessing online services, education, or employment. Throughout the year, the organisation delivered hands-on digital safeguarding support alongside structured education and awareness activity. This included securing devices and digital environments through appropriate configuration, automated updates, secure account practices, and protective controls, combined with accessible training to help users understand online risks, digital responsibility, and safe online behaviour. This approach ensured that safeguarding measures were sustainable and empowering rather than restrictive. The Digital Safety CIC participated in and delivered a broad range of conferences, festivals, professional events, and community sessions. These included large public events such as the Northumbria Innovation Festival and EPIC.LAN, as well as sector-specific conferences, education-focused training, youth engagement activities, and targeted professional sessions. Across all activity, the organisation directly engaged 483 participants during the year. Audiences included young people aged 11–24, education professionals, police cadets, small business owners, and specialist community groups. The organisation worked collaboratively with a wide range of partners, including public sector bodies, education authorities, law enforcement-linked youth organisations, and community and youth-focused partners. These collaborations supported the delivery of GDPR and data protection training for education professionals, CPD-aligned digital safety sessions for police cadets, digital careers and cyber awareness initiatives, and community-based online safety and safeguarding activity. Education and awareness delivery spanned schools, nurseries, community centres, social enterprise hubs, businesses, and online platforms. Topics covered included online safety for young people and families, scam awareness, social media security, sexting and online harm, cyber security for businesses, gaming and esports safety, and future cyber threats. Delivery ranged from small, targeted sessions to large-scale public events, demonstrating both depth of engagement and breadth of reach. The community benefit arising from these activities is evidenced through measurable engagement, participant feedback, repeat delivery requests, and sustained partnerships. Education professionals and police cadets reported increased confidence in managing digital risk and safeguarding concerns, while young people demonstrated improved awareness of online responsibility and greater interest in digital and cyber career pathways. The organisation’s continued invitations to deliver follow-up and expanded sessions indicate that its work is valued and delivering ongoing benefit rather than one-off awareness. In addition, the organisation strengthened its capacity during the year by expanding its team with four new roles, enhancing capability in community outreach, project delivery, design and communications, and data protection. This growth supported improved reach, quality of delivery, and governance. Overall, the Digital Safety CIC’s activities during the financial year delivered clear and demonstrable benefit to the community by improving digital safety knowledge, reducing exposure to online harm, supporting professional capability, and enabling safer, more confident participation in digital life across a wide range of groups and settings.

We continue to work alongside– Public sector organisations and utilities (including Northumbrian Water) – Through participation in large-scale innovation and engagement events. Consultation takes place via structured feedback collection, event discussions, and post-event follow-up. Feedback has informed the refinement of digital safety messaging and the development of clearer, practical guidance for mixed professional and public audiences. Education authorities and education professionals (including Durham Education) – Through repeated delivery of GDPR and data protection training for headteachers, teachers, and school staff. Consultation occurs via session feedback, discussion during delivery, and repeat booking requests. Actions taken include updating training materials, increasing the use of real-world scenarios, and delivering sessions across multiple dates in response to sustained demand. Law-enforcement-linked youth services (including Durham Police Cadets) – Through CPD-aligned digital safety and safeguarding sessions. Consultation is embedded through facilitated discussion and structured feedback. Content has been adapted in response to feedback to place greater emphasis on sexting, digital footprints, online harm, and safeguarding decision-making. Community and youth organisations – Including partners involved in digital safety education, gaming, esports, and digital careers initiatives for young people aged 11–24. Consultation takes place through discussion, feedback, and repeat engagement. Actions taken include refining session content to better reflect young people’s lived digital experiences and emerging online risks. Small businesses and community groups – Through targeted cyber security and online safety awareness sessions. Consultation is informal and feedback-led, highlighting the need for accessible, non-technical guidance. In response, materials were simplified and practical advice prioritised. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) & University of East London – Continuing collaboration to develop an innovative cyber range learning platform. Consultation occurs through ongoing partnership working and knowledge exchange. Feedback has shaped the platform’s focus on practical skills, accessibility, and real-world cyber and digital safety scenarios. Inclusive Change at Work CIC – Ongoing collaboration following the delivery of a conference focused on the Digital Wellbeing of Young People. Consultation has informed continued knowledge sharing and the refinement of wellbeing-focused digital safety messaging. Police and Crime Commissioners for Durham & Darlington, Avon & Somerset, and Humberside Police – Engagement and consultation through delivery activity and safeguarding discussions. Feedback supports the continued focus on preventative digital safety education and youth safeguarding. National network of Business Resilience Centres – Consultation through engagement with resilience and cyber awareness activity. Feedback reinforces the importance of practical cyber resilience guidance for small businesses and community organisations. BornGood – Ongoing partnership to empower communities through high-quality recycled IT equipment. Consultation takes place through delivery experience and user feedback, informing how devices are securely configured and supported for safe and reliable use. Academic institutions (Universities in Loughborough, Sunderland, Northumbria, Durham, University of East London and Portsmouth) – Continued collaboration on evidence-based research and development to inform national policy and best practice in online safety. Consultation occurs through shared research activity and knowledge exchange, influencing the organisation’s safeguarding frameworks and training content. There has been active and ongoing consultation with stakeholders throughout the year. Feedback gathered through these relationships has directly informed content refinement, repeat delivery, accessibility improvements, and strategic focus, ensuring the organisation’s activities deliver sustained and meaningful community benefit.

Full details provided in accounts. There were no other transactions or arrangements in connection with the remuneration of directors, or compensation for director’s loss of office, which require to be disclosed.

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration