Friday, 24 April, saw our first Arun and Chichester ‘Junior Citizen’ event draw to a close. Held at Goodwood Racecourse, the event played host to over 800 children from 29 local schools giving them the opportunity to participate in a number of interactive safety workshops. These Year 6 children are at an important stage in their lives as they prepare to transition from primary to secondary school.
The workshops were presented by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, South East Coast Ambulance Service, Sussex Police, Govia Thameslink Railway/ Network Rail, West Sussex County Council’s (WSCC) Community Safety & Wellbeing Team, WSCC’s Waste Prevention and Arun DC’s Environment & Climate Change teams and Thought-Full (WSCC’s Mental Health Support Team) who covered a range of topics designed to help the pupils to stay safe in the future.
A VIP Day was held on Thursday, 23 April 2026 when children from St Catherines Catholic Primary School in Littlehampton and Bosham Primary School in Chichester joined us to showcase the event. On the day, we were honoured to welcome a number of local mayors and councillors, together with Chief Insp Adam McCaig (District Commander for Chichester) and Insp David Lyons (Chichester NPT) from Sussex Police, and Sabrina Pennington-Down (Assistant Director) from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
Thanks as always to everyone who worked so hard to make the event a great success. We would especially like to thank James Crespi (Director) for allowing us to use Goodwood Racecourse as a venue for this pilot project and special thanks must go to Tara Bottomley (General Manager) and her event management team for making all the JC team very welcome. In particular though, we would like to thank our main sponsors, Dax O’Connor (Community Safety Manager, Arun DC) and Pam Bushby (Divisional Manager Communities, Chichester DC), for their kind sponsorship and for making the event possible. Finally, we must mention the fact that without the help and support of Anton Mezzone, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s Station Manager for Chichester Fire Station, this event would not have taken place – many thanks Anton, you’re a star.
Director, Sabrina Pennington-Down from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said: “I would really like to add my thanks to Anton and the Prevention team who delivered some great sessions. I really enjoyed attending the event and learnt so much from the many different organisations that took part in this amazing event – everything from mental wellbeing, safety – both physical and digital, anaerobic digesters and food waste – on the subject of which: quick fact with the composting of a banana skin you can power a mobile phone for two days! And, if ever I have to resuscitate anyone I may do it singing along to baby shark. It was wonderful to see the Prevention team shine in their session delivery. Very well done to all involved. I know this will have created lasting memories for all the young people who took part.”
You will be pleased to hear that each child that attended the Arun and Chichester ‘Junior Citizen’ this year has also received a copy of the 92-page, full colour ‘Junior Life Skills’ handbook thanks to the generous support of the Safer Arun Partnership and the Chichester District Community Safety Partnership – thank you!
