Learning about risks is child's play

Date published: 04 June 2010

Two thousand children are being taught how to deal with everyday risks and dangers.

The statistics might show that two million children in England visit the Accident and Emergency departments of hospitals each year.

But leaders of Crucial Crew, a local children’s safety project, worry that some parents may be wrapping their children in cotton wool.

As a result, youngsters don’t learn how to manage risk, interact with their environment or appreciate that their actions can have consequences.

Crucial Crew helps children to manage dangerous situations in a realistic manner where there will still be an element of risk involved, helping prepare them for adult life.

Bury Road Safety Unit is behind June’s Crucial Crew event, teaching more than 2,000 Year 5 pupils how to tackle everyday situations and stay clear of trouble and crime.

The event consists of real life role-plays, held at Bury Interchange. Pupils are placed into small groups and spend ten minutes at each set where they are presented with a number of scenarios to which they have to respond, from a road crash to bullying.

The scheme takes the children out of the school atmosphere, disregards ability and ensures everyone gets involved and learns while having fun.

The road safety team has been helped in the project by Bury’s park rangers, leisure services, environmental services, Greater Manchester Police Community Support Officers, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Bury PCT School Health, United Utilities, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and the North West Ambulance Service.

Ted Booker, the Crucial Crew co-ordinator for Bury, said: “Bumps and bruises are a part of growing up. As children get older, however, their curiosity can conflict with their new-found independence, especially if they don’t have the skills to manage risk or react to dangers. Crucial Crew bridges this vital gap and is hugely popular with schools, children and safety professionals alike.”