Nearly 800 children from across the South Hams have taken part in the annual Junior Life Skills event, held recently in Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge and Totnes.

The event, which is free for the schools and Year 6 children to attend, encourages children to think about challenges they could face in 2018 and beyond.

The aim of the event is to develop children’s understanding and awareness to enable them to live safely and provide them with the skills to assess and respond appropriately to potentially dangerous situations. 

The children met with safety experts such as fire fighters, police officers, road safety officers and lifeguards in a controlled and supervised environment.

Five partner agencies joined with South Hams District Council to present ten different scenarios. These included Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, the RNLI and Western Power.

Cllr Tom Holway, chairman of SHDC and community safety partnership representative, said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to offer this opportunity for children in the South Hams for another year. Children and young people face far more hazards nowadays than in previous generations, and I’m glad that we as a council are able to help out teachers and parents with some extra education.

“We’re very grateful to our partner agencies for joining with us to offer these events, and thanks as well to Fusion Leisure centres for the use of the facilities.”

In each scenario, children faced a hazard they could encounter at any time. They covered issues such as safety around water, telephone awareness, keeping safe around electricity and using roads safely.

With the help of trained experts, the children were taught how to recognise hazards, deal with emergencies and develop social responsibility.

Any businesses or organisations who would be interested in sponsoring the event next year should contact Karen Procter at SHDC on [email protected].