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Five thousand school pupils from 70 schools in the Aston, Nechells and Winson Green areas of Birmingham have benefited from road safety education and advice as we continue to expand our successful road safety projects throughout the city. This is at a time when a series of recent incidents have highlighted just how dangerous the journey to school can be.

Fay Goodman, our founder explains: “In the last few weeks we’ve seen some awful news stories about accidents near schools, school crossing patrols being cut, and just how dangerous it can be for some children to get to school.  Our vision is to create a safer world where children can go to school and play outside safely.”

Following our first pilot in 27 Birmingham schools last year, we delivered road safety teaching resources to nearly 3000 children, located in high accident hotspot areas of the city involving school children. The response was 100% positive in feedback from both teachers and pupils alike. The success of the pilot means we have now been able to increase the number of children we reach with the delivery of thousands of fun and educational work books to local pupils. Teachers also receive lesson plan books with a variety of activities and scenarios for delivering road safety education to their classroom.

At an official launch event on Tuesday 22 May, representatives from West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service, Birmingham Council, Five Alive Roadwise, and local schools heard more about the impact of The Conies Journal on local children’s understanding of road safety.

Thanks to Colour Cubed who print our journals.

Fay Goodman – founder of the Conies, PC Malcolm Cooper – Young person’s officer – Birmingham Partnerships, Jean Roberts – Five Alive Roadwise, and Claire Turner.

Fay added “We are delighted with the support we’ve received to extend our Road Safety programme and thank all our supporters who have made it possible. Our mission is to reduce accidents and to avoid potential dangers out there. The Conies are a fun and friendly way to teach children about risk and how to mitigate it.

“Our work is by no means done with this latest round of journals, ideally we need another 15,000 just to meet the demand from the schools we’ve already spoken to.  If any local businesses or organisations can support us we would be incredibly grateful. You can get in touch with us via our website.”

The Conies are already supported by the Birmingham Safety Community Partnership which comprises the WM Police, West Midlands Fire Service and Birmingham City Council. Also Tim Watts, Chairman of Pertemps Group, Jess Phillips MP and celebrity Rick Wakeman. West Midlands Mayor Andy Street sent a message of support that was read out at the event.

Department for Transport statistics show on average in the mid-1990s, 260 children killed on Britain’s roads annually. Year on year these figures dropped until 2011 with the trend now reversed upwards. In 2016 69 children (an increase of 15 from 2015), were killed on our roads. This was the highest figure since 2009. We believe that concerted efforts need to be undertaken to address this worrying trend.

All support whether financial or volunteering time and skills would be very welcome, please get in touch if you can help.

Clairet

Author Claire Turner

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