Safe Squad teaches 2,300 young people in Tameside vital safety skills

A PARTNERSHIP has delivered safety training to more than 2,300 young people in 60 primary schools across Tameside in just a few weeks.

From teaching first aid to online safety, the Safe Squad has been on tour to ensure Year 6 pupils have the skills and knowledge to protect themselves and others.

It’s a partnership between Tameside Youth Service, PAC CIC and Cath Quinnell First Aid Training that takes place across six weeks.

There were 4 workshops young people got involved in including:

• Personal Safety: Based around hate crime, keeping safe on the streets, transitioning from year 6 to 7, bullying, keeping safe in summer around open water, and much more.
• Online Safety: Based around social media, online gaming and also socialising on any form of social media, particularly around who we are talking to i.e. strangers, keeping safe when posting on social media, cyber bullying and grooming.
• Community Safety: Two workshops, one around Basic First Aid (CPR), spotting signs and knowing what to do in emergencies. The other around fire safety in the home, making sure smoke alarms work, not keeping devices on charge or plugged in all the time, spotting the first signs of hazards in the home and knowing to remove them.

Tameside Council’s Deputy Executive Leader Councillor Bill Fairfoull, who has responsibility for Children and Families, said: “It’s fantastic that the Safe Squad has been able to reach so many young people in primary schools across the borough to teach this vital safety training from first aid skills that could save a life to keeping protected online, which is becoming increasingly important and something that will concern all parents.

“I hear that all the schools really enjoy Safe Squad’s visits and appreciate the workshops – there is always positive feedback from teachers and headteachers. It shows the value of partnership work, coming together to share resources and keep people safe. I’d like to thank and congratulate everyone involved for their hard work and success.”

PAC CIC is a community interest company that specialises in delivering activities and engagement with young people.