This month we led a robust response to Meta’s plans to use AI to fill out 90% of its risk assessments on new products and updates, pointing out the move is incompatible with the Online Safety Act, and calling on Ofcom to act decisively.
We also have news on our mental health workshops for parents of young children and have opened up our application process to run for Molly Rose Foundation in next year’s London Marathon.
Find out more below, and remember if you need support, you can contact someone you trust for help. You are not alone and it is OK not to be OK.
This newsletter contains mentions of suicide and self-harm. If you need support text MRF to 85258 to message a trained volunteer.
Education, training and support
Did you know Molly Rose Foundation also offers parent training workshops designed to support your little ones from birth to the age of five?
Recently we delivered a Supporting Little Minds session to parents of children at Willows Farm Day Nursery & Pre-School in St Albans. Demonstrating practical ways to support children’s emotional and mental health in both nursery and home, key topics included helping little ones recognise and express their emotions with mood boards, tips for encouraging healthier bedtime routines and simple ways to create joyful, lasting memories together through our Family Bag of Happiness.
One parent told us: “I took away lots of tips and ideas. The session was clear, helpful and interesting and it was nice to be alongside other parents and nursery staff. Having opportunities for support and learning as a parent is invaluable.”
If you would like to host a session please email us at training@mollyrosefoundation.org
Get involved
We are pleased to be able to offer a number of new events and opportunities to help you get involved with Molly Rose Foundation. You can run, walk, swim, cycle, push or come up with your own sponsored challenge and every penny you raise will help us stand up for and support children and young people in the UK so they can live safe, supported and happy lives.
And whether you have your own place, or you’d like to apply for a charity place, you can join the Molly Rose Foundation TCS London Marathon (26 April 2026) team or Brighton Marathon (12 April 2026) team and help provide support and guidance for young people and raise awareness of preventable suicide.
Alternatively, you could dream up your own unique event from a sponsored haircut to a dog walk, game-a-thon or football tournament. Whatever you decide to do, get in touch and we’ll provide t-shirts and other materials to support you: supportercare@mollyrosefoundation.org
Raising awareness
June saw Chief Executive Andy Burrows speak at a training conference for the Norfolk Paediatric Education Group. Attended by around 150 professionals – mostly working in paediatric health care – this was an opportunity to build awareness of suicide prevention and social media harm.
Molly Rose Foundation is always happy to share its research and experience to clinical and paediatric groups, having previously spoken to Royal Colleges, the Paediatric Mental Health Association, NHS Trusts and medical schools.
My Bag of Happiness
Suitable for children aged between 7-11, the My Bag of Happiness scheme supports PSHE lessons and encourages children to create and collect happy memories, enabling them to reflect upon these and gain strength when needed.
Feedback tells us this initiative is empowering for the children who take part and equips them with vital tools with which to express themselves.
If you are a teacher or parent and would like to receive one or more of these Molly Rose Foundation-designed My Bag of Happiness packs please contact us via training@mollyrosefoundation.org to submit your request, letting us know the relevant information (including your name, address, contact details, number of packs required etc). Any additional background details you can provide us with about why you’d like one or more of these packs would also be appreciated.
Molly Rose Foundation staff are also available to run workshops using the packs and will happily come into schools in the London area to do this. Our trainers are DBS checked and are used to working with children in schools. To arrange a workshop please contact us at: training@mollyrosefoundation.org
We’d particularly love to hear from schools about to see off their Year 6 pupils as we can offer Bag of Happiness initiatives to them ahead of their journeys to secondary school in September.
Donations directly to the My Bag of Happiness initiative can be made here.
News
This month saw the publication of an Ofcom consultation into additional safety measures under the Online Safety Act.
The new measures will be consulted on over the coming months but aren’t expected to come into effect until Summer next year.
Our Chair of Trustees Ian Russell warned measures to tackle suicide and self-harm don’t go far enough and called on Keir Starmer to step in.
Ian said: “Further measures are always welcome but they will not address either the systemic weaknesses in the Online Safety Act or the lack of ambition in Ofcom’s approach to regulation
“As long as the focus is on sticking plasters not comprehensive solutions, regulation will fail to keep up with current levels of harm and major new suicide and self-harm threats.
“It’s time for the Prime Minister to intervene and introduce a strengthened Online Safety Act that can tackle preventable harm head on by fully compelling companies to identify and fix all the risks posed by their platforms.”
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Molly Rose Foundation coordinated a letter to Ofcom in response to Meta’s plans to use AI to fill out 90% of its risk assessments on new products and updates.
The letter was sent to Ofcom Chief Executive Dame Melanie Dawes, urging the regulator to speak out and say the move is incompatible with the Online Safety Act.
It was signed by 24 organisations and online safety experts and said Meta’s actions “threaten the safety and wellbeing of children, women, LGBTQ+ and black and minoritised communities”.
Chief Executive Andy Burrows said: “This crass decision is another deeply retrograde step that confirms Mark Zuckerberg is determined to lead a race to the bottom on Meta’s product safety standards.
“Robust risk assessments are a cornerstone of the Online Safety Act and should be undertaken with expert human oversight not treated as a box ticking exercise that makes a mockery of the regulatory process.
“It is crucial that Ofcom acts quickly to tell Meta and the rest of the tech industry that it won’t accept them cutting corners when the safety of our children and society is at stake.”
You can read more about this news in The Guardian and download the full letter here.
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To see more MRF news and press releases, please visit our news section.
Support in crisis
This year so far, we have sent out 30,840 Where To Find Help cards in response to 96 requests. Since the charity began operating, we have distributed more than 220,000.
These popular pocked-sized help cards feature four different messages of reassurance and provide information signposting children and young people to mental health support services.
Some of our recent feedback: “We will distribute these cards to delegates who attend our safeguarding training courses and events. This will spread the word about MRF and enable school staff to distribute the cards in their own settings.”
“I would like 1,000 cards to distribute across our paediatric team to share with the young people we work with.”
We also welcome requests from universities, colleges and schools. If you are an individual with a connection to any of these, please get in touch.
Each box contains approximately 140 cards with a list of recommended organisations that can help in varying circumstances. On the reverse side you’ll find printed one of four different inspiring quotes.
If you require more than one box, please state how many in the comments section online and we will arrange delivery of any amount required.
Other ways to support us
Become a regular donor – Click here to view our Enthuse platform, where you can view fundraising events already in place and where you can take the opportunity to start fundraising yourself. Alternatively, click here where you can make a donation directly.
