The ‘Crucial Crew’ scheme, coordinated by Child Safety Media, aims to teach children about important issues that are often overlooked by the curriculum, such as personal safety, Internet safety, staying safe online, child criminal exploitation (CCE), knife crime, fire safety (what to do if a fire is encountered, making a 999 call, home safety), healthy relationships, protection against violence, abuse and exploitation, promoting health and wellbeing, ensuring children are more informed about vaping/e-cigarettes and their potential harm (short/ long-term effects), and first aid (learning how to save a life; DRABC; basic life support – CPR; recovery position).
Over 800 Year 6 children (10-11 Year Olds) from 22 local primary schools across the borough took part in a series of interactive safety workshops with agencies including Hertfordshire Constabulary (local Safer Neighbourhood Team and Child Criminal Exploitation Team), Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, SAHWR Specialist Domestic Abuse Service, School Nurses (part of the Hertfordshire Family Centre service) and East of England Ambulance Service. The workshops give pupils the unique opportunity to learn valuable skills from the professionals, through practical demonstrations and discussions in real-life situations.
The VIP day was held on Tuesday, 16th September, and was attended by special guests that included Cllr Chris Gray (Community Safety Portfolio Holder), Cllr Louise Nicolas, (VAWG Member Champion) and Hilary Shade (Assistant Director Policy & Partnerships) from Hertsmere Borough Council; Ch/Supt Luke Mooney (Chief of Staff & Head of People & Workforce Development) and Insp Rachael Robertson (Hertsmere NPT) from Hertfordshire Constabulary; Maralyn Pollard (Chair of Trustees) and Gemma Magee-Herd (Head of Domestic Abuse Services) form SAHWR Specialist Domestic Abuse Service.
Schools in attendance on the day were Monksmead School from Borehamwood and Newberries Primary School from Radlett.
The event would not have happened without the support of Hertsmere Borough Council, who provided the venue for free and whose staff made us all really welcome and went out of their way to ensure that the event ran smoothly – thank you!
