Citizens of the future gain life skills

Thousands of pupils from schools across the borough will be learning invaluable life skills as part of the annual Junior Citizen scheme.

The two-week initiative run in partnership by Havant Borough Council and the Safer Havant Partnership, gives children who are about to start secondary school advice on a range of subjects in a fun and entertaining way.

Organisations including Hampshire Fire and Rescue, Hampshire Police, RNLI, Stop Domestic Abuse Service, Motiv8 and Havant Borough Council’s own Animal Welfare department provide bitesize sessions on issues like being a good citizen, keeping safe in the home and whilst out and about.

The Year 6 pupils will also learn the importance of respecting the local wildlife and how to stay safe around dogs. Students will experience six interactive scenarios at the event which have been designed to tackle local community safety issues and concerns:

• Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) will teach the students about beach safety, incorporating advice about local conditions.
• Hampshire Police will make the students aware of online safety.
• Students will be working with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to learn about arson awareness and fire safety.
• Stop Domestic Abuse Service (SDAS) will talk to the students about unhealthy relationships, the affects of domestic abuse and discuss safe people to talk to.
• Havant Borough Council’s Animal Welfare Team will teach the importance of keeping safe around dogs and how to help protect the local wildlife.
• Motiv8 will discuss the importance of keeping safe in the community in friendship groups.

Pupils will also be shown a short video telling the story of Georgia Jones from Havant, who sadly died at the Mutiny Festival in 2018. Georgia’s story is set to raise awareness amongst young people on the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The video has been produced with the permission and assistance of Georgia’s mother Janine Milburn, who is hoping to attend the Junior Citizen event.

Councillor Narinder Bains, Cabinet lead for Neighbourhoods, Safety and Enforcement said: “We are delighted thousands of our borough’s young people are being given this opportunity to learn some truly invaluable life skills that they can take with them into adulthood.

“It is an important time in their lives as they prepare to take the steps up to secondary school, where they will be faced with new challenges in both their school life and personally.”

Now in its 29^th year the Junior Citizen event will include 26 junior schools from the borough of Havant and takes place between 11 and 22 November 2019 at Fort Purbrook.

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