RAF Shawbury hosts schools community safety event
RAF Shawbury has hosted an important community safety event, in partnership with the West Mercia Police.
The annual, week-long North Shropshire Safety Scene got under way on Monday 5th October and ran until Friday 9th October to promote various forms of community safety to youngsters from virtually every primary school in North Shropshire. Nearly 650 ten-year-olds from Years 5 and 6 from 20 North Shropshire primary schools visited the event, held in the Roland Wycherley Force Development Centre at RAF Shawbury.
The Safety Scene has been running since 1997 and was the brainchild of ex-Market Drayton Police Officer, Mr Glyn Teggin. It takes place in a theatrical village as the basis for various scenarios to “play act” safety messages to the young schoolchildren.
Through his efforts and the support of the local community, the North Shropshire Safety Scene is now firmly established and has provided all types of safety tuition to around 12,500 schoolchildren since its inception.
RAF Shawbury’s Health and Safety Officer, Mrs Jan Sheffield said: “We are very pleased to be able to once again support this important initiative which plays such an important part in developing awareness of hazards both inside and outside the home”.
The children are able to experience many different safety scenarios including: drugs and stranger danger awareness from the police, fire safety and hoax calls from Shropshire Fire and Rescue, water safety from British Waterways, bonfire and fireworks safety, safety in the kitchen and home from the Rotary Clubs of Wem, Ellesmere, Market Drayton and Whitchurch, dog wardens, how to contact the emergency services, first aid, building site safety, road and farm safety, electrical danger, cyber-bullying and race and religious discrimination.
Mr Glyn Teggin said: “The project deals with the day to day dangers young children of North Shropshire are likely to come into contact with during their daily lives. It gives them a hands-on opportunity to learn about these dangers in a safe environment. Use of the theatrical village also brings an element of fun to the serious messages we are putting across. It also develops good citizen skills”.
The Station Commander of RAF Shawbury, Group Captain Jason Appleton said: “Safety sits at the centre of everything we do and the Station has developed significant expertise in that area. We are delighted to use that safety expertise, together with our facilities, in educating young people in our local community. This project could not take place without the fantastic volunteers who give up their free time to deliver these important safety messages”
