Winter has officially arrived, meaning darker nightsand CSEF has been advising school children to takeextra care when walking home from school.

Last year, 41 children aged 5 to 16 years were killed orseriously injured in road traffic accidents every week,and the risk is much greater during the darker months.

Young people are often hurt on the road because theycan’t be seen clearly by other traffic. The problem getseven worse during the winter, when the days are shorterand there is more bad weather, like heavy rain or fog.

The twilight hours – just before and just after the sunsets – are the most dangerous times of all, because

drivers’ eyes are adjustingto the changing light.

Children have beenadvised to stand outagainst the gloom bywearing bright clothingmade out of reflectivematerial. Other adviceincludes keeping to well-litroutes and crossing roadsat safe places, like zebraor pelican crossings.

If pupils cycle to schoolwhile it is dark, lightsshould be fitted to thefront and back of thebike. They should bechecked regularly tomake sure they are ingood working order andthat the batteries are wellcharged.

NewsletterWinter 2008

0161 477 5122 0161 476 2786 info@csef.net www.csef.net

Registered Office: Hilton House, Lord Street, Stockport, Cheshire SK1 3NACSEF Registered Charity Numbers: 1103344 and SCO37714

Chairman: Lord Wade of Chorlton; Trustees: Liam McGurrin, Terry Spurr MBE and Ann Alexander; Patron: Alison O’Brien

London pupilstaught to‘Think Safe’Every year, 256 children arehospitalised each week. A further700 will die and 10,000 are left disabled. CSEF and theMetropolitan Police have teamedup in November to deliver theirJunior Citizen’ programme to over50,000 children from 600 schoolsacross London.

The aim of the programme is tominimise the number of childrenkilled or injured, by teaching themsome vital skills needed to keepthemselves safe. The programmewill also mark the launch of a newDVD to support the programmeand reiterate some of theessential safety advice tochildren, teachers and parents.

Please contactpatrick.omalley@csef.net for further details.

A recent report called ‘Why Carry AWeapon’ by Nicola Marfleet, agovernor at Pentonville Prison, hasrevealed that children as young as 11are carrying knives because of fear ofbeing attacked.

Researchers were told by youngpeople that they turned to gangs forprotection because their parents andteachers did not defend them.Alarmingly, they said tougher prisonsentences would not deter themfrom carrying a blade.

The author spoke to under-18s incustody at Feltham Young OffendersInstitution and young people whohad been excluded from schoolattending two pupil referral units(PRUs) in Haringey and Hackney.

Figures earlier this summer revealedthat one person is the victim of sucha crime every four minutes. And in2007, there were 16 fatal stabbingsof teenagers in London. By August2008, a further 20 London teenagershad been fatally stabbed.

Coming soon…

In order to tackle this head on, CSEF has been working with theMetropolitan Police to produce ahard-hitting educational film resourcethat highlights the dangers of knifecrime. Full details will be availablesoon but in the meantime, you canalso get all the latest advice from theMetropolitan Police on knife andviolent crime at:www.droptheweapons.org

Online childsafety watchdogThe government has launched anew watchdog to advise on howit can increase the protectionfrom dangers posed to youngpeople by the internet.

The UK Council for Child InternetSafety (UKCCIS) will policewebsites containing inappropriatecontent, write industry codes ofpractice for publishers andadvertise to children about how tostay safe online.

The establishment of a UKCouncil for Child Internet Safetywas a key recommendation in DrTanya Byron’s Report ‘SaferChildren in a Digital World’.

For further information:www.dcsf.gov.uk/byronreview

Winter has arrived! Children advised to ‘Be safe, be seen’

The Deputy Mayor of Manchester Alison Firth pictured at the road safety scenario atManchester Crucial Crew which was attended by 39 schools

Carrying knives ‘out of fear of attack’

Crucial education in child safetyCSEF has once again joined forces with Stoke onTrent’s Safer City Partnership to provide vital safetyeducation to children across the city.

The Crucial Crew scheme will see more than 2,800 Year 6 pupils take part in a series ofinteractive workshops. The first series of workshopsran from Monday 8 September until Tuesday 30September, and a second series will take place inFebruary 2009.

The ‘hands-on’ events aim to teach children aboutimportant issues that are often overlooked by thecurriculum, such as anti-social behaviour, basic firstaid, road and fire safety and substance abuse.

The workshops are delivered by local safetyagencies and will give pupils the unique opportunityto learn valuable skills from the professionals,through practical demonstrations and discussions inreal life situations.

Patrick O’Malley, Head of Development at CSEF,said: “It’s essential that young people learn aboutpersonal safety but getting this message across inthe classroom is often not very effective. By allowingchildren to explore these difficult topics in a fun andinteractive environment, with real safetyprofessionals, the lessons become much more realand therefore, more likely to make a difference.”

Pupils take part in a number of hands-on activities,such as crawling through dark rooms to escape fireand learning about resuscitation skills. They even findout about the consequences of antisocial behaviour,criminal damage and the effects of drinking.

The workshops are held at the Territorial ArmyCentre on Waterloo Road, and include sessionsfrom the Safer City Partnership, Staffordshire PoliceService, British Transport Police, West MidlandsAmbulance Service, Staffordshire Fire Service, andA1+ Highways Service.

0161 477 5122 0161 476 2786 info@csef.net www.csef.net

Registered Office: Hilton House, Lord Street, Stockport, Cheshire SK1 3NACSEF Registered Charity Numbers: 1103344 and SCO37714

Chairman: Lord Wade of Chorlton; Trustees: Liam McGurrin, Terry Spurr MBE and Ann Alexander; Patron: Alison O’Brien

‘Toxic Childhood’ authorwarns delegates - parentsmust learn to ‘let go’Sue Palmer, author of ‘Toxic Childhood’ has warnedthat we are raising a nation of bullies and victims byover protecting and over controlling our children.

Sue, who is also an education consultant, addressed80 delegates at an event held at the ScottishParliament on child safety recently. The event wasorganised by CSEF to highlight the importance ofchild safety education in Scotland.

Hosting the event was Elizabeth Smith MSP, theShadow Minister for Children, Schools and Skills.Elizabeth also spoke of her concerns over the lack ofoutdoor play and education for children andstressed that when it comes to safety, commonsense must prevail.

Other keynote speakers included Margaret Brunton,Home Safety Officer at South Lanarkshire Counciland Mark Stevenson, Chair of the Scottish BurnedChildren’s Club.

Crucial Crewreaches 2,500 children

More than 2,500 10 and 11-year-olds across Manchester andTrafford have benefited fromCSEF’s latest Crucial Crews.

The hands-on events involved aseries of workshops teachingchildren about safety issues thatare often overlooked by thecurriculum, such as basic first aid,road safety, fire safety and anti-social behaviour.

Agencies helping to deliver thesessions included the police, fireservice, council, ambulanceservice and health service.Greater Manchester PassengerTransport Executive and A-one +Highways also took part.

John McNamee said: “It’sessential that young people learnabout personal safety byexperiencing risk in controlledconditions. By participating in theworkshops, pupils were able toexplore difficult topics in a fun andinteractive environment, with realsafety professionals.”

Pictured l-r are Mark Stevenson, Sue Palmer, CSEFChairman Lord Wade of Chorlton, Elizabeth Smith MSP,Margaret Brunton and CSEF CEO John McNamee

Mole Valley HousingAssociation helpsAshcombe and PriorySchools deliver ‘Respect’Mole Valley Housing Association gave The AshcombeSchool and Priory School’s pupils and teachers ahelping hand when staff delivered 1500 copies of aRESPECT booklet to assist them in their PSHECitizenship studies.

Head Teachers David Blow, from The Ashcombe andAndre Sohatski, from The Priory, as well as pupils andteachers from Year 7, were pleased to welcomeCommunity Development Officer Karen Dennis andCommunity Wardens Adrian Birtchnell and KevinAldridge, alongside Schools Partnership Coordinatorfor Mole Valley area, Alison Reed.

Addressing young people in the booklet’sintroduction, Managing Director of MVHA DavidSearle said “Our work is not just about housing – it’sabout homes and communities – and working withyoung people is one of our priorities.”

Head of Lower School at The Ashcombe School, JaySimmonds said “The book contains relevant topics,excellent advice and personal stories. The links tocitizenship are particularly impressive.”

Head teachers, staff and pupils from Priory and AshcombeSchools receive copies of Respect booklets from Mole Valley Housing Association who sponsored the publication

Escape Plan - pupils learn how to dealfire related dangers

Respect!More than 100 people attended a Respect awardsevent in the summer celebrating the achievements of70 young people of Burnley who successfullycompleted the Turning Point Safer Driving Project.

The flagship course, which CSEF provided theresources for, was hailed a ‘tremendous success’since being set up a year ago by Burnley Road SafetyAction Group. It equips young people with knowledgeabout road safety following anxious concerns raisedby residents. The course also covers aspects of drugand alcohol awareness and the roles of theemergency services.

The event was attended by young people and theirfamilies along with youth organisations, the Leader ofthe Council and the Chief Executive.

Councillor Birtwistle said: “It was a great evening andreally positive to see so many young people fromacross the borough willing to get involved in a schemethat will save lives, protect vulnerable people acrosscommunities and ensure those behind the wheeldon’t end up in front of the police or in the cemetery.”

Safe routes to MadrassaBurnley Council’s Neighbourhood Management teamis working closely with Positive Prospects, a localcommunity group in Daneshouse and Stoneyholme, todevelop a Safe Routes to Madrassa project.

The project aims to improve the safety of, and raiseroad safety awareness amongst, young childrentravelling each evening to each of the sevenMadrassas in the area for their Quaranic lessons.

Up to 900 children, some as young as five, are travellingeach weeknight, through the area at peak traffic times,often across busy main roads and sometimesunaccompanied. The project will support volunteersfrom the local community to act as Marshals at criticalcrossing points throughout the area.

All children between the ages of 5 years and 15 yearswill be given an article of high visibility clothing towear during their journey and the Mosques will run areward scheme to encourage children to wear theirreflective clothing.

0161 477 5122 0161 476 2786 info@csef.net www.csef.net

Registered Office: Hilton House, Lord Street, Stockport, Cheshire SK1 3NACSEF Registered Charity Numbers: 1103344 and SCO37714

Chairman: Lord Wade of Chorlton; Trustees: Liam McGurrin, Terry Spurr MBE and Ann Alexander; Patron: Alison O’Brien

Parents call timeon trick andtreatingMore than half of the parentspolled for an online survey byCSEF said they would not beletting their children go out trick-or-treating this Halloween.

The findings revealed that 54% ofparents would not allow theirchildren to take part in the tradition,with 45% citing road safety issuesand 43% highlighting anti-socialbehaviour as a concern. Otherreasons included bullying, crimeand underage drinking.

Of the children who were allowedto trick or treat, an overwhelming89% of these would beaccompanied by an adult.Furthermore, 72% of respondentssaid they would only allow theirchildren to visit friends andneighbours that they know well.

Several parents stated that they feltit is more dangerous for children totrick or treat now than it was in thepast, pointing to concerns aboutincreased violence and knife crime.

Many more commented that theywere not comfortable with thepractice because it is akin tobegging and is intimidating forolder or vulnerable residents.

Despite their concerns, the figuresshowed that only 3% of childrenhad been involved in an accidentor crime while trick or treating.Reported incidents include eggsbeing thrown, robbery and assault.

Patrick O’Malley, Head ofDevelopment at CSEF, said: “Theresults show that parents nowhave a very real concern aboutsafety during Halloween. Far fromwanting to dampen spirits on theoccasion, we were keen to helpchildren have a safe and positiveexperience. And it wasencouraging to see that the vastmajority of children who weregoing trick or treating were doingso under supervision.”

Around 400 pupils in Tonbridge and Malling arebeing encouraged to think long and hard about theconsequences of bullying, anti-social behaviour andcriminal damage thanks to new sponsorship fromRusset Homes.

Russet Homes, the largest provider of socialhousing in Tonbridge and Malling, donated £2,500to a scheme being run by the Children’s SafetyEducation Foundation. Pupils aged 7-14 yearsattending four local schools, Hugh ChristieTechnology College, St James the Great Primary,Longmead Community Primary and HolmesdaleTechnology College have been given theFoundations topical books designed to providethem with the knowledge, skills and understandingthey need to avoid and handle the risks they mayface in their everyday lives.

Pupils aged 7-11 years received ‘Will Power’s’, abook covering topics such as anti-social behaviour,bullying, smoking, alcohol and drugs misuse. Olderpupils between 11-14 years were given a bookcalled ‘Respect – your life your choice’, highlightingissues like car crime, shoplifting, domestic violence,racial harassment and vandalism and offering adviceon personal safety.

Jacqueline Wilkinson, Russet Homes OperationsDirector – Housing Services, said: “As a landlord toso many local people we jumped at the chance tohelp promote these powerful messages to childrenand make them stop and think about the affect theiractions can have on other people lives. Too oftenchildren submit to peer pressure and think it isacceptable to damage people’s property andintimidate local residents and communities.”

“Russet Homes hasalready signed up to theGovernment’s RespectStandard for HousingManagement making avisible commitment toresidents and employedtwo specialist officers tohelp combat anti-socialbehaviour. We stronglybelieve prevention isbetter than a cure andby showing youngpeople they have achoice and encouragethem to takeresponsibility for theiractions we can helpreduce the anti-socialbehaviour in ourcommunities andcreate a culture ofrespect.”

Russet Homes encourage children to think about‘Anti-Social Behaviour’