Cornerstone VR, part of The Antser Group, is an award-winning, trauma-informed virtual reality behaviour change tool used by parents, carers and professionals who work with vulnerable children and families.

Our programme is used in almost 50% of local authorities, as well as NHS trusts, schools, universities, ambulance services, the police and independent providers.

Through a series of short 360° VR immersive films, where the user can live the experience of an abused, neglected or exploited child, our programme increases empathy and enhances the understanding of a child’s emotions, trauma and potential triggers to improve the care, support and guidance they can provide.

We are proud to have released a new series of 360° immersive virtual reality films to raise awareness of young people’s activity online and the impact this can have on their personal safety and mental health.

The films are aimed at those supporting vulnerable children and young people, and were written and scripted after several focus groups with professionals working with children in social care and the education sector, conversations with young people and consultations with social media experts –  including the teams at Inspirations – providers of children’s residential care homes – and the London Borough of Redbridge Council.

The first is an introduction to social media, showing how it fits into the day in the life of a young person, such as WhatsApp conversations with family members to receiving unsolicited messages from strangers; films two and three show how young people can be persuaded to meet someone in real life; and the fourth focuses on the decline of a young person’s mental health due to social media. 

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We have partnered with the National Organisation for FASD and Cambridgeshire Virtual School to create a new immersive film, shown from the perspective of an unborn child whose mother is feeling pressured to drink alcohol at a party.

The film is an adaptation of The Unborn Child’s View and is voiced by Georgia Roberts, a young woman who has FASD and is an acting member of the Advisory Committee for the National Organisation for FASD.

The content is aimed at those living with and supporting young people with FASD; including birth families, foster carers, adopters, special guardians, residential workers, as well as those working in social care, health and education.

FASD is a neurodevelopmental condition with the potential to cause lifelong cognitive, emotional and behavioural challenges. Linked with over 400 conditions (including ADHD and autism) the disorder currently stands as the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disability and cause of birth defects in the Western world. With a prevalence rate of 3-5% across the general population, data suggests that 1 in 20 individuals in the UK may have FASD.

Our VR content broadly covers exploitation in its many forms, bringing to life the experiences of children and adolescents who have experienced Child Sexual and Criminal Exploitation.

The content allows parents, caregivers and professionals to gain an understanding of how children and young people may become sexually or criminally exploited – and our immersive films follow the stories of two young people in line with this.

Cornerstone’s immersive VR experience allows users to build confidence in supporting exploited youth, developing trusting relationships, implementing safety strategies, and promoting multi-agency collaboration.

Our partners use the films to bring about positive outcomes, including reduced risks, increased awareness, improved well-being, and the presence of protective factors in the lives of young individuals affected by CSE/CCE.

Proximity is a key driver for empathy. Our VR Programme closely follows the lives of children and young people from pre-birth to adolescence as they experience trauma, abuse and neglect, placing the user at the heart of their experiences through a series of VR immersive films.

By embarking on an unforgettable journey through VR, practitioners who work with children, young people and families will develop an enhanced understanding and empathy towards vulnerable individuals, ultimately challenging their own behaviour to better respond in ways that will prevent future trauma and damage.

Manchester Met Police and London Ambulance Service are among our many partners who have used Cornerstone VR to support staff’s awareness when faced with these scenarios and to better support children, young people and vulnerable adults in these situations.

Additionally, Cornerstone’s VR Platform hosts content from charities and non-profit organisations, partnering with Alzheimer’s Research UK, National Autistic Society and independent fostering agencies across the country.

This content is available to all of our programme users.