Casual employees are being sought to help drive a successful training scheme to teach pupils to be safe pedestrians.
Bradford Council's Road Safety Team has been running a training programme at various primary schools throughout the district to help children be aware of the dangers when crossing the road. The training is aimed at seven and eight-year-olds.
The project involves one classroom session and three practical sessions, run by casual employees, which focus on teaching three skills:- choosing safe places and routes; crossing safely at parked cars and crossing safely near junctions.
The Council has run its own courses since April last year and 48 schools have taken part with around 2, 207 receiving training. This was set up after the initial government-funded Kerbcraft project which ran for five years.
And pupils at Oakworth Primary school will be taking part in road-crossing lessons on Monday, 21 January, at 1.10pm.
Road safety officer Huma Rahman said: "This project has been extremely popular and it's important pupils learn the basic skills about how to cross roads safely.
"We are now extending the scheme to even more schools and we need to get more willing helpers on board to ensure we can expand and offer the sessions.
"Children are a vulnerable group and there were 108 child pedestrian injuries in 2006. This vital training should help to reduce that number."
Coun Anne Hawkesworth, the Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "This is a fantastic programme which is helping the children in our district to stay safe when crossing the road.
"Hopefully, people will come forward to help run the sessions as more and more schools are signing up for them."
Casual helpers are paid an hourly rate and mileage and given full training. For further details contact Huma Rahman on (01274) 437409.
Media Relations Officer:
Carolyne Coyle
Telephone: 01274 433526
Fax: 01274 432005
Email: press.communications@bradford.gov.uk
Date: 16.01.08
