Havering Junior Citizens learn life skills for the future

More than 2000 school children across Havering have signed up to learn life skills to protect themselves against knife crime and to keep themselves safe in the community.

As part of the Junior Citizens Project, year six pupils from 32 primary schools are spending two weeks learning how to travel safely on public transport, to be more aware of drugs and knife crime, and what to do if there is a fire.

The project, run by Havering Council and the police, sees pupils taking part in a series of challenges and scenarios to help them cope with everyday life.

The workshops are led by various organisations such as the Council’s Community Safety team, Street Scene, the Met Police, London Fire Service, TfL, Wize Up drug awareness, the road safety team and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

Each school will be awarded points for their knowledge and for demonstrating what they have learned during the sessions.

At the end of the challenge, the school with the most points will be awarded with a shield and certificates.

Councillor Viddy Persaud, Cabinet member for Public Safety and Protection, said:

“This year we have more pupils than ever taking part in the Junior Citizens Project, which demonstrates both the interest and the demand that schools and young people are placing on their safety and desire to be well informed.

“The pupils involved will be making the leap from primary school into secondary school and it’s important that they learn the life skills necessary to prepare them for both the change and the challenges they could possibly face.”

Junior Citizens runs from 24 June until 5 July 2019 and was created to educate young people at a crucial point in their educational and social development before they move into secondary school.

The winning school will be presented with their prizes by the Mayor of Havering on 12 July 2019.