Guildford Fire Station has proved a blazing success as this year’s venue for the 2009 Junior Citizens fortnight (1 – 12 June).

By the end of this week (Friday 12 June) around 892 year six children from 19 schools across the borough from: Ash, Bushy Hill, Burpham, Merrow, Pirbright, Slyfield, Worplesdon, Westborough, Guildford Town Centre will have taken part in the two weeks of interactive sessions designed to teach youngsters how to be safe and responsible.

Rodney Bates, Community Safety Warden Supervisor who helped co-ordinate the event said: "It is very encouraging to see so many schools keen to get involved with Junior Citizens and it is great that we have willing partners such as the police, Surrey Fire & Rescue, and St. John’s Ambulance who have all given their time and resources for this purpose”.

Junior Citizens comes about through a unique partnership with Safer Guildford working closely with outside agencies such as St John’s Ambulance, to teach youngsters in the last year at primary school, various aspects of personal safety (which include: fire hazards, first aid/road safety, internet safety, safe outdoor play, good manners, arson and stranger danger.)

Nick Boulton, Community Safety Education Officer, said: "Junior Citizens raises awareness of personal safety in a fun and effective way and helps give young people confidence about being able to deal with an emergency situation. The opportunities it presents the children who are about to move onto secondary school are extremely important, especially at a time when they really do need to be aware of how to look after themselves.”

The project is made up of a number of workstations involving different tasks, which encourage children to actually think about simulated situations involving everyday dangers. On arrival the day's events are explained to the children, and groups of seven – 10 then spend 10 minutes at each one of the workstations. At the end of the sessions they are presented with a certificate of achievement and an assortment of ‘goodies’ to remind them of their day.

Vicki Bennett, Year 6 Class Teacher of Weyfield School, added: “The children have really enjoyed themselves and we now feel they are much better equipped to keep themselves safe during the school holidays.”

ENDS