Wokingham

Starting last Monday (June 23) and continuing until July 4, schoolchildren from year six classes in the Wokingham Borough and Reading Borough will be visiting Bulmershe Youth Centre to take part in Reading and Wokingham Junior Citizen – a multi-agency event being led by the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Wokingham Borough Council’s youth service, with support from various partner organisations.

Over the course of the fortnight, a number of demonstrations, activities and talks will be available to children to teach them valuable life skills and raise their awareness of personal safety issues in the home and community. Aimed at children aged 10 and 11, the event will see over two and a half thousand school children pass through the centre doors during this time.

Demonstrations, talks and activities on offer include an anti-bullying session led by a member of Wokingham Borough Council’s youth service, a talk on the affects of cigarettes and alcohol, an internet safety workshop led by Thames Valley Police, talks on fire safety and water safety by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue and first aid ‘save a life’ sessions with South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Kay Nicker, neighbourhood youth worker at Bulmershe Youth Centre said: “We are trying to give appropriate information to year six pupils that will help them to stay safe and make informed choices for their future.“

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, deputy executive member for Wokingham community development, said: “I think this is a wonderful example of how the key agencies are working together to help young people to keep safe and learn about responsible citizenship. I am confident that those youngsters taking part will have a great time in doing so too.”

Wokingham Borough Council