Campaign keeps kids
A summer campaign aimed at keeping young people safe, engaged in positive activities and out of trouble over the school holiday period was launched this week at Leigh Fire Station.
safe4summer encourages young people to think about the impact anti-social behaviour can potentially have on the wider community – from the dangers of riding off-road motor vehicles and the risks associated with starting deliberate fires to the potentially life threatening knock-on effects of making hoax calls to the emergency services.
Led by Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, the campaign calls on the support of local partners, including Wigan Council, Greater Manchester Police and various community groups, to ensure kids right across the borough stay safe4summer.
But the annual campaign, which covers all ten local authorities in Greater Manchester, is about more than simply diverting young people away from dangerous or anti-social behaviour. It’s also about getting them to consider some of the issues that are important to them, from healthy eating and alcohol consumption to sex education and bullying.
And of course, it’s also about making sure young people have fun whilst spending time with mates in a safe environment. That’s why safe4summer.com encourages young people to check out things to do – from learning new skills to taking part in a raft of free sports, activities and volunteering opportunities.
Wigan Borough Commander at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Steve Sheridan, says:
"Sadly, the summer holiday period poses many potential dangers to young people – from the risks associated with starting small fires, to the often irresistible but tragic lure of dangerous buildings and open water. "Our aim with safe4summer is to help everyone enjoy this time of year safely and responsibly, whilst ensuring resources are available to respond to real emergencies."
Superintendent Bob Lomas from Greater Manchester Police, Wigan Division, adds:
"We recognize that it’s only a small minority of young people who get involved in dangerous or inconsiderate behaviour, and in fact it’s adults who are responsible for the majority of anti-social behaviour in our borough. "Sometimes young people get caught up in what may appear to be a bit of harmless fun, but not everybody shares the same opinion. We will always deal robustly with those people whose behaviour causes distress, intimidation and nuisance to other members of the community. Partners have a strong track record in reducing anti-social behaviour and we are committed to ensuring our neighbourhoods remain safe for everybody this summer."
Speaking ahead of the launch on behalf of Leigh Area Managers Group - a consortium of agencies who deliver services in the area - Insp Ian Kennedy of Leigh Neighbourhood Policing Team, says:
"Over the Easter and Spring Bank Holiday period, partners in Leigh laid on a range of activities for young people and families, which proved really popular and had a positive effect in reducing anti-social behaviour. So much so in fact that we decided to work with the community on laying on an even more ambitious programme of activities over the summer. "Young people will be able to take part in activities such as camping, golf, mountain biking and kayaking. Social events and community volunteering opportunities are also available, whilst additional police patrols in Leigh town centre and other hot spots will give residents the reassurance they need that ASB won’t be tolerated."
Also attending the launch were members of Lowton Community Cadets, a group established by local charity, Compassion in Action in partnership with the Leigh Neighborhood Policing Team. The youngsters, all aged between 8 and 13, have completed a number of projects which have benefitted the local community, and are currently planning a clean-up campaign on Pennington Flash next week.
"We want to assure local residents that agencies are working together and constantly finding innovative and cost effective ways of combating the affects of ASB on local neighbourhoods," says Cllr Kevin Anderson, Wigan Council’s cabinet champion for communities and the environment. "Engagement can be as beneficial as enforcement when it comes to tackling the issue of youth-related anti-social behaviour," he adds. "That’s why campaigns like safe4summer are so important, by signposting young people to information on personal safety and social responsibility, as well as telling them about all the positive activities available to them."
This year, to make the summer even more memorable for all the right reasons, young people logging onto safe4summer.com can enter an on-line competition for a chance to win an i-Pod Touch, the latest Mp3 which features face time video calling and a high definition video camera.
The website also features a thought-provoking video which urges young people to show respect for others whilst asking parents to play a greater role in checking what their kids are up to over the summer.
The safe4summer campaign is supported by Linc Online, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s youth information site which is produced in partnership with the Council’s Youth Service and local young people.
Pictured: Lowton Community Cadets Ian Morrisson, Alex Openshaw and Stephanie Blinkhorn with Chief Inspector Clara Williams, Greater Manchester Police; Brian Highlands, Station Commander, Leigh Fire Station (Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service); Cllr Kevin Anderson, Wigan Council's cabinet champion for community and environment; and Chief Executive of Compassion in Action Pam Gilligan.
Partners pictured at the launch at Leigh Fire Station.