What a fantastic day Year 6 have had at Crucial Crew! We visited the Lifewise Centre in Hellaby, where the children took part in a range of interactive workshops designed to help them recognise dangers, make sensible decisions and keep themselves and others safe.

Throughout the day, the children were faced with real-life scenarios, asked some brilliant questions and learnt lots of important skills that could one day save a life!

🚌 Bus Safety

We kicked off the day by learning how to stay safe when travelling on public transport. The children explored how to use bus passes, wait safely at bus stops and board buses sensibly. We also discussed the importance of behaving responsibly when travelling and being aware of our surroundings.

🚨 Child Criminal Exploitation

Next, we explored the serious issue of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE). The children learnt about the different ways gangs and criminals might attempt to persuade or pressure young people into carrying out jobs for them.

We discussed the dangers involved, the potential consequences of becoming involved in criminal activity and, most importantly, how to recognise warning signs and seek help from trusted adults.

⚖️ Inside the Courtroom

One of the highlights of the day was our visit to a mock courtroom!

The children learnt how magistrates’ courts work and discovered that the age of criminal responsibility in England is just 10 years old.

We even took part in our very own mock trial, giving the children the opportunity to experience how the justice system works and understand the consequences of breaking the law.

To finish the session, we had the opportunity to look inside a prison cell, which certainly gave everyone something to think about!

🤝 Hate Crime and Knife Crime

We explored the importance of respecting others and learnt about the protected characteristics covered by equality legislation.

The children then discussed knife crime, including the laws surrounding carrying knives and the serious dangers involved.

We discovered some eye-opening statistics, including that 70% of people who carry knives are injured by their own knife, and that 99% of young people aged 11–19 in South Yorkshire have never carried a knife.

An important message from the session was that carrying a knife does not make someone safer.

🔥 Fire Safety

After lunch, we headed straight into learning about fire safety in the home.

We explored the importance of having working smoke alarms and testing them regularly. The children were challenged to identify potential fire hazards hidden around a bedroom and discussed how everyday objects can become dangerous if used incorrectly.

We also learnt how to check a closed door for signs of fire on the other side and what to do if we ever find ourselves trapped by a fire.

Finally, we practised making a 999 call and discussed the important information emergency services need, including our home address and postcode.

Our challenge for home: Make sure your child knows their home address and postcode so they can share this information in an emergency!

🚦 Road Safety

Next up was road safety!

We discussed how to cross roads safely, the hazards pedestrians need to look out for and why it is particularly important to be visible during the darker autumn and winter months.

The children were amazed to discover that a car travelling at 30 mph can take approximately 23 metres to stop, even when the driver is paying attention!

We also explored the many distractions drivers face and why pedestrians should never assume that a driver has seen them.

🌊 Water Safety

Our water safety session focused on the dangers of open water, including hazards that are visible and those hidden beneath the surface.

We discussed why swimming in rivers, canals and near weirs can be extremely dangerous, even when the water appears calm.

The children learnt the importance of Float to Live and practised remembering the starfish position: lying back, spreading their arms and legs and trying to remain calm if they accidentally fall into water.

We also explored how to help someone in difficulty without putting ourselves in danger.

Another fantastic discovery was the what3words app, which can help people communicate their precise location to emergency services when they need assistance.

👮‍♂️ Anti-Social Behaviour

Our final session of the day focused on anti-social behaviour and the impact our choices can have on other people.

We explored the dangers of making prank calls to the emergency services and how these calls can waste valuable resources and delay help for someone experiencing a genuine emergency.

The children also discussed what anti-social behaviour looks like, how it affects communities and how to safely distance themselves from situations where others may be making poor choices.

It was a brilliant way to finish a day that had been packed with important messages about personal responsibility and staying safe.

🌟 A Fantastic Day of Learning!

We are incredibly proud of how our Year 6 children approached every session. They listened carefully, participated enthusiastically, asked thoughtful questions and showed a mature attitude towards some very serious topics.

Crucial Crew has given our children valuable knowledge and practical strategies to help them stay safe as they become more independent and prepare for the next stage of their lives.

A huge thank you to everyone at Crucial Crew and the Lifewise Centre for providing such an engaging, informative and memorable experience.

Well done, Year 6! What a brilliant day! 👏🚨🌟