High turnout for WDBC's Junior Life Skills

West Devon Borough Council's annual Junior Life Skills event earlier this term saw its highest ever turnout. The learning event, held every year for year six pupils, challenges children in 'real-life' scenarios that teach essential safety lessons. 549 children from across West Devon took part in the action-packed sessions, held recently at Okehampton's Parklands Leisure Centre and Tavistock Town Hall. The event, which is free for the schools and children to attend, encourages children to think about challenges they could face in 2017 and beyond. The children gained an understanding of personal safety and community responsibility, as well as an awareness of health and safety issues.

The program is an interactive learning experience where children discussed hazards in a wide range of different situations, and learned the most appropriate actions to take from fully trained volunteers from our partner organisations. Eight partner agencies joined with West Devon Borough Council to present ten different scenarios. These included Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, the RNLI, Dog's Trust and Western Power, as well as Tavistock Rotary Club. This year we were joined for the first time by the Royal Life Saving Society. In each scenario, children faced a hazard they could encounter at any time. They covered issues such as safety on the moors and around water, telephone awareness, keeping safe around electricity and dogs and using roads safely. With the help of trained experts, the children were taught how to recognise hazards, deal with emergencies and develop social responsibility. The scenarios from West Devon Borough Council encouraged the children to think about waste and recycling, as well as food safety and the importance of hand hygiene.

Cllr Caroline Mott, Lead Member for Customer First, of West Devon Borough Council, said: "It's absolutely vital for children to learn these essential safety messages, which will help prepare them for life through their teenage years and beyond. Teachers and parents can struggle to fit these messages into a jam-packed curriculum, so it's fantastic that we're able to help support them in this. That said, we wouldn't be able to do so without the support of our partner agencies, and we're very grateful for their time and efforts once again."

Any business or organisation interested in sponsoring the event next year can email karen.procter@swdevon.gov.uk to express their interest.