NewsWise

An award-winning, cross-curricular news literacy project for seven- to 11-year-olds across the UK, set up by the Guardian Foundation, National Literacy Trust and PSHE Association

Why it matters

Fake news is a real problem. We live in an era of major national and international political change and disinformation. NewsWise is an award-winning primary programme which aims to empower seven- to 11-year-olds with the skills and knowledge to navigate this confusing world. We want to help them to engage with and enjoy news, to feel confident to ask questions and to challenge misinformation, to have their own values and opinions. We want to help young people to develop a clear and authentic voice amongst their peers, in their homes, schools and wider communities.

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Guardian, June 2018

What we do

We partner with city officials to establish local risk assessments and design action plans and programmatic responses. From de-radicalisation programming to youth engagement strategies, we ensure that local responses address local needs.

Working from the ground up, we establish local coordination bodies that unite city halls, civil society educators, public health bodies, the private sector and faith leaders to identify and address community tensions. We base our success on harnessing existing and credible institutions, from social services to traditional civic infrastructure.

We galvanise mayors, city officials, local services, communities and youth, training them to play active roles in diagnosing and responding to local risk factors, creating an international repository of best practice approaches.

We help members access the latest research and best practice from across the network through our SCN Online Hub, which features stories, interviews, guides and training modules for teachers, city officials and civil society. Our SCN Hate and Extremism Mapper provides members with data, building digital observatories that correlate online risks with offline behaviour.

We act as a bridge, creating stronger working relationships between local and national governments. We also provide civil society with the knowledge, skills and resources to foster meaningful partnerships with officials in city halls.