During the financial year to 31st August 2026, Safe Online Space Cymru has continued to make significant strides in advancing digital inclusion and creating safer online spaces for communities across Cardiff and Wales.

We successfully concluded our Connected Futures Cardiff project, funded by National Lottery, which focused on creating more digital awareness and hosting digital literacy sessions to help people navigate the online space with more confidence. The workshops provided accessible knowledge for people of all ages and backgrounds, providing digital skills to help with accessing employment opportunities, online GP appointments, online banking services, understanding the use of AI as well as equipping attendees with more practical skills for navigating the evolving digital landscape. Through the Connected Futures Cardiff, we provided free digital skills training, access to equipment, and tailored workshops that empower individuals with the confidence to navigate the online world. This programme has engaged hundreds of participants, with clear outcomes in improved digital literacy, employability skills, and reduced social isolation. 

With support from Cardiff Council, we already delivered the BetterNet Cardiff Celebration, a vibrant event that brought diverse communities together to celebrate digital inclusion. The event fostered dialogue, intercultural understanding, and highlighted the importance of access to safe online tools for building stronger, more cohesive communities.

During the Wales Climate Week 2025, we delivered a session on Digital Pathways to Net Zero. This highlighted the impact of carbon reduction from technological devices and other digital gadgets towards the Net Zero target agenda. This was made possible through a small grant from the Welsh Government.

Collectively, these projects and workshop sessions have benefited the community by reducing digital exclusion, empowering people with lifelong learning opportunities, and creating inclusive spaces for connection. Our work continues to bridge digital divides, promote wellbeing, and contribute to a Wales where everyone, regardless of background, can thrive in an increasingly digital society. 

Safe Online Space Cymru’s key stakeholders include children and young people, parents and carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, migrant communities, older people, digitally excluded individuals, schools, community organisations, public-sector bodies, funders, delivery partners, volunteers and Directors.

We engage with these stakeholders through workshops, community conversations, training, events, consultations and feedback. Their experiences and needs help shape our work around digital inclusion, online safety, digital confidence, safeguarding and emerging online risks.

Our partnerships also help us reach more people, strengthen community engagement and ensure that our activities continue to deliver meaningful community benefit across Wales.

At Safe Online Space Cymru, our mission is to tackle digital exclusion and promote a healthy digital community by creating safe, inclusive spaces where people can thrive online. During the financial year ending 31 August 2026, we worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders: beneficiaries, funders, partners, local institutions, volunteers, and the wider community, to shape and deliver our projects. By listening carefully to those we serve and co creating solutions with them, we ensured that our activities met real needs and created lasting impact. 

Our primary beneficiaries are individuals and families most at risk of digital exclusion, including young people, older adults, migrants, refugees, Black and ethnic minority communities, people with disabilities, and carers. We also work closely with funders such as the National Lottery, Cardiff Council and UnLtd, Welsh Government alongside delivery partners including schools, youth organisations, community centres, and local tech companies. Our trustees, staff and volunteers, who mostly have lived experience of exclusion and racism, play a vital role in shaping our work. We run regular focus groups, participant surveys, and one-to-one interviews to understand needs directly from beneficiaries. We hold monthly meetings with partners, use digital feedback channels for quick responses, and convene an advisory panel of community voices, experts and funder representatives. After each event, we evaluate outcomes with volunteers and participants to refine our delivery. 

Continuous Feedback have highlighted the need for workshops at times that fit around work and caring responsibilities, bilingual resources and interpreter support, as well as practical solutions to barriers like device access, internet costs, and transport. Stakeholders also asked for safe, culturally aware spaces, stronger safeguarding, and the opportunity for ongoing peer support beyond short courses. In response, we introduced evening and weekend sessions, alongside hybrid delivery for greater flexibility. We launched a device-loan scheme, partnered with refurbishers to provide affordable equipment, and offered travel stipends and childcare vouchers. Our resources are mostly bilingual, with BSL and translation provided where needed, and we strengthened safeguarding through a co-created “Safe Space Charter.” We have trained youth ambassadors as peer mentors to sustain support between sessions, and we updated training modules to include AI literacy, online safety, and combating misinformation. 

Significantly, attendance rates have increased, retention rates improved, and digital confidence rose significantly among participants. Drop-out rates fell after access barriers were addressed, and peer-led activities are now continuing in the community. Attendees consistently report increased confidence, reduced isolation, and greater resilience in navigating the digital world.

We continue to measure impact through pre- and post-session surveys, case studies, and video testimonies, alongside tracking attendance, device loans, and retention. Feedback is published transparently through our updates and stakeholders see their voices acted upon. 

Safe Online Space Cymru is built on the principle of co-creation. By listening, adapting and placing lived experience at the centre, we have turned community insight into meaningful change, strengthening digital inclusion, wellbeing, and cohesion across Cardiff and beyond.