Award for centre that teaches children to stay safe

The Lifewise Centre in Hellaby features a life-size set of a town which is used to deliver fire, road and “personal safety” messages.

Educational programme “Crucial Crew” sees thousands of schoolchildren taken through a “scenario-based learning programme” to learn about issues such as anti-social behaviour, fire safety, arson and first aid.

The High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Andrew Coombe presented the High Sheriff’s Award to temporary Chief Constable Robert Dyson and Chief Fire Officer Jamie Courtney last week.

He said of the Lifewise Centre: “It is a brilliant, innovative, forward-looking project, which has already shown that providing every child in South Yorkshire with free awareness education can save lives and property and make them better equipped to deal with life in general.”

Mr Courtney added: “Educating young people to help keep themselves safe is of common interest to us, and we are delighted the High Sheriff has decided to recognise our joint work in this way.”

The temporary Chief Constable said the centre helps to “keep people safe and to reduce crime.”