Police call for volunteers to promote rail safety in schools across the country

From the British Transport Police press release:

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British Transport Police (BTP^▸ ) is calling on volunteers to join a new scheme designed to educate children and spread the message of rail safety in schools nationwide.

BTP and Network Rail, in their commitment to ensure passenger safety on the railway, are reaching out to children and young people as they look for volunteers to help drive the importance of rail safety into schools in Bangor, Croydon, Darlington, Exeter, Gloucester, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth, Reading, Shrewsbury, Swansea, Truro, and Woking.

The Network Rail Safety Reps Scheme works as a preventative tool aimed at primary school children with key safety advice that will be utilised immediately and as they increase their independent travel at secondary school.

Volunteers would be asked to approach schools that would benefit from software materials designed to provide comprehensive lesson plans on rail safety. They will also be expected to give support and guidance in using the software and assist with evaluating at the end.

Teresa Bedziejewski, BTP^s Volunteer Manager said: ^This is a fantastic opportunity for members of the public to help deliver the message of rail safety to children across the country.

^A small number of pupils will act as rail safety reps, helping other children in their class to learn how to stay safe on the railway through a range of different activities including quizzes and competitions, art activities, history and transport competitions, along with maintaining a notice board filled with messages aimed at all year groups.

^It is a far more exciting approach which gets children involved in the subject and allows them to take responsibility for their own learning.^

Liz Heading, Network Rail^s community safety manager, said: ^Safety is at the forefront of everything we do and these volunteers will play a key role in our work to tell young people about the dangers on the railway. We believe it is important to provide younger children with the information that will allow them to use the railway safely as they grow up. By empowering school kids to educate their friends and fellow pupils, we are encouraging them to take an active role in their communities.^

Teresa Bedziejewski continued: ^We are always looking to develop our volunteers, and we hope to expand this opportunity so that eventually, more experienced volunteers will be equipped to provide rail safety talks to other volunteers.^

For more information about the scheme and for becoming a volunteer with British Transport Police contact Teresa Bedziejewski on 020 7521 6321 or email: teresa.bedziejewski@btp.pnn.police.uk.

To download an application form please click here - http://www.btp.police.uk/about_us/btp_in_the_community/volunteer_with_btp.aspx