April 13, 2010
SOUTH YORKSHIRE CHILD SAFETY PROGRAMME GOES NATIONWIDE
John Healey has received another award for his continuing support of a child safety programme.
Mr Healey hosted and gave the opening welcome at the annual Kids Taskforce Champion Awards at Lancaster House in London. Last year he also sponsored the event and was given an award, which go to children and adults making an outstanding contribution.
The Kids Taskforce aims to make children’s lives safer through the missdorothy.com and Watch Over Me programmes.
Mr Healey has championed their work since 2007, as local MP and Minister. The programme also has the backing of the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education.
He said: “I have been proud to support this worthwhile project from the beginning and am proud that this programme, which has its roots in South Yorkshire, will now be helping keep children safe across the country.“
The programme has been delivered to all 60,000 primary school children in South Yorkshire for the past four years, originally developed with and funded by local police and the fire service.
Based on that blueprint it has been rolled out in other parts of the country and schools minister Vernon Coaker recently announced that the Kids Taskforce would receive £750,000 from the government to lead a nationwide safety campaign in primary schools.
Mr Coaker said: “Educating children from an earlier age about the importance of staying safe will mean we give them the advice and information they need to form their own opinions on the issue, rather than being swayed by peer pressure.
“This approach enables us to help steer young people on a path to success and to prevent falling into a downward spiral of anti-social behaviour, crime and violence.”
The campaign is supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Chief Fire Officers’ Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association.
Its aim is to reach every child in England with important messages using a website and personal workbooks.
Kids Taskforce president Sharon Doughty said she welcomed the funding and added: “The South Yorkshire blueprint which John has been involved with is important because it has shown those with influence, particularly police and fire service chiefs, that it is possible to provide a sustainable safety education programme for every child.
“John has been so generous with his time and his support has given the Kids Taskforce campaign enormous credibility. He knows a great deal about our work and understands our passion for keeping children safe.”
Notes to editors
The photo shows John Healey with Kids Taskforce president Sharon Doughty and TV presenters Lizzie Greenwood Hughes (left) and Emma Willis (right) with two of the young prizewinners at Lancaster House.