The mother of Olly Stephens, who tragically lost his life to knife crime in 2021, is helping to launch a pioneering online safety summit in Reading next week. 

Amanda Stephens will deliver the keynote speech to representative from a wide national and Berkshire-based services at the event in Reading Town Hall on Wednesday, November 20. 

Olly Stephens was 13 when he was fatally stabbed in Emmer Green, Reading, on January 3, 2021, in what his father described as an 'execution' planned on social media. Two boys, both 14, were sentenced to more than 12 years in prison over the murder, while a girl, 13, was jailed for more than three years for manslaughter. 

Now Olly's mum is set to address representatives from Ofcom, the Youth Justice Board, and the chief of the National Youth Agency at Reading's first ever online youth safety summit. 

Amanda said: “I am so excited to be involved in a groundbreaking event here in our hometown. 

"Reading is taking seriously the risk to our children through our lack of understanding of the reality they live in on and offline."

Guest speakers and contributors will include a range of national charities including the Molly Rose Foundation, Breck Foundation and Ben Kinsella Trust – charities set up by parents after losing children to online grooming, knife crime and exploitation.                                                    

Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety and Chair of the Reading Community Safety Partnership, said: “We are exceedingly proud to be hosting this pioneering event at Reading Town Hall on Wednesday 20 November. 

"It is the aspiration of the event to allow professionals who work with children and make decisions about them to understand the risks – as told by children themselves - about their online experiences."

More than 13 school will be attending the summit to provide the perspectives of a range of young people, according to Carly Newman, Operations and Relationships Manager at youth support group No5.

She said:  “All too often decision makers and leaders do not take account of what young people have to say or think about services provided to them."

Last week, Olly Stephen's family told The Reading Chronicle that they are looking to start a 'smartphone-free childhood' campaign with primary schools across Reading in 2025.