Over the past six years, more than one million children have benefited from the work of London Fire Brigade’s dedicated Schools Team. The team was set up in 2001 and has 15 specialist officers, all highly trained in presenting the dangers of fire to youngsters in imaginative ways, making the experience enjoyable, as well as educational.
Kitted out in brand new, bright red uniforms, the team delivers its interactive fire safety education workshops to pupils in years 2 to 6, across the capital. As well as giving the team an identity, children associate the colour red with the fire engines they see responding to emergencies in their communities.
Schools Team Manager Sara Foster said: “We know that we really are making a difference in increasing children’s awareness of the dangers of fire and reducing the risk of fire incidents in homes across London.
“We are looking forward to increasing the numbers of schools we visit over the next year and expanding on the excellent work that the team does.
Note to editors:
The free programme is open to primary schools, schools for pupils with special needs, pupil referral units and private and independent schools.
The workshops concentrate on fire prevention, detection and escape and include role play, games, videos and worksheet activities to educate and inform the students. This valuable personal safety education is designed to encourage children to be more aware of the dangers of fire and how to reduce risks.
The core of the Schools Team’s work is based in schools during term time, but the schools officers also work at Junior Citizen events and throughout the school holiday periods in play schemes, at community events and organising community safety events at fire stations.
For more information on the work of the London Fire Brigade’s Schools Team email sara.foster@london-fire.gov.uk or call 020 7587 6368.
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
