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Wednesday 18 Aug 2010

DONATION HELPS DRIVE HOME RAIL SAFETY TO MK KIDS

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Network Rail has joined forces with the Safety Centre in Milton Keynes to help teach young people about the dangers of trespass and vandalism on the region’s railways.

The company has donated £5,000 to fund a DVD which will be shown to children at the Safety Centre, reinforcing the lessons they learn when using the centre’s realistic railway scenario. The key teaching points of the scenario focus on the dangers of going on or near the railway line and the dangers of high-voltage lines and cables.

The partnership coincides with Network Rail’s nationwide No Messin’! campaign, which works with young people to help them understand the consequences of taking risks on railway lines. Earlier this year Network Rail revealed that more than 3,000 instances of trespass and vandalism were committed by young people in 2009, with many children risking their lives by taking shortcuts or playing on the railway.

Simon Whitehorn, area general manager for Network Rail, said: “I’m delighted to have this opportunity to visit the centre for myself and see the excellent work that goes on here. The kids react fantastically to the interactive format of the different safety scenarios and it’s clear they’re learning some really important lessons.

“Given the close association that Network Rail now has with Milton Keynes I’m really pleased to present the centre with a donation of £5,000 towards the development and production of this DVD. The Safety Centre already does excellent work teaching children about staying safe when using the railway and the DVD will help reinforce that work with many more young people.”

Jan Alder, director of the Safety Centre, said: “On behalf of the Safety Centre Trustees, staff and volunteers I would like to thank Network Rail for this donation which will help us not only to continue, but to improve delivery of our rail safety messages. We look forward to continuing our association for many years to come.”

The Safety Centre opened in 1994 as a partnership-based community safety project involving Thames Valley Police, Bucks Fire and Rescue Service, health authorities, local government, other statutory organisations and the private sector. There is no central funding funded and as such relies heavily on donations and sponsorship.

Since its inception the centre has had over 300,000 schoolchildren between the ages of seven and 12 receive the interactive safety messages covering twelve hazardous scenarios. The children are encouraged to identify everyday hazards and develop safe strategies to deal with potential emergencies, changing their behaviour to keep themselves and others safe.

The Safety Centre will be holding a free open day on Sunday 22 August. For details please go to www.safetycentre.co.uk.