A Year 9 Rye College student has been awarded a Breck Ambassador of the Month for his outstanding contribution to online safety education.
Year 9 student Freddie was commended for his resilience, commitment, and for the high quality of the assemblies he has delivered as part of the school’s partnership with the Breck Foundation’s Youth Ambassador Project. Freddie has shown confidence and maturity in his role as a Breck Youth Ambassador and helped his peers and younger students to understand the importance of online safety. He was awarded by the Programme Lead, Giselle Wild, and was selected from all the participating schools.
Rye College joined the Breck Foundation’s Youth Ambassador Project after being invited to participate by the East Sussex PSHE Hub. The project, launched in March 2025 and funded by the Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (OSPCC), empowers young people to take the lead on educating their peers about online safety.
The Breck Foundation was founded in 2014 by Lorin LaFave Gordon, following the tragic death of her son Breck Bednar. It works to safeguard children and young people online by sharing Breck’s story and delivering online safety education.
Through its Youth Ambassador Project, the Foundation believes young people’s voices speak the loudest and aims to empower them to educate their peers and reclaim the internet as a safer space. The project was launched in March 2025 and funded by the Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (OSPCC)
Twelve students were initially selected to participate in the project. Following a workshop where they learned more about Breck’s story and the Foundation’s work, interested students were individually interviewed by the programme lead. As a result of this process, three students, Kessia, Pheobie and Freddie, were selected to serve as Breck Ambassadors for Rye College.
The school’s Ambassadors have taken part in public speaking training, team-building days, a launch event, and specialist workshops focused on delivering Breck’s story effectively. They have delivered assemblies to students in Years 7 to 9, educating them about online safety and the risks of online grooming. There are plans to work with local primary schools and collaborate with other schools to develop PSHE lesson plans and resources in the future.
Dom Downes, Headteacher of Rye College, said, “We are incredibly proud of Freddie and all our Breck Ambassadors for taking an active role in promoting online safety. The Youth Ambassador Project gives young people a voice and agency, and it is inspiring to see our students using it to help keep others safe online. Working with the Breck Foundation has been a hugely valuable experience for our whole school community.”
Image Credits: Aquinas Trust Communications .