Schools can now pre-book visits to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Safety Central, Cheshire’s first and only interactive and life skills education centre, due to open in September 2017.

The service is building the state-of-the-art facility at the junction of the M6 and M56 near Lymm. It represents a £4m investment in keeping the people of Cheshire, Halton and Warrington safe from accidents and avoidable harm.

Online booking for Safety Central’s two schools’ programmes is now open for the 2017/18 academic year, marking another major milestone in the centre’s development.

Safety Central manager Mark Shone explained: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming people of all ages to a safety centre which has something for everyone. As an organisation, we strive to make safety engaging and we are thrilled that Cheshire Fire Authority supports this goal. As the authority funds the running costs of the centre, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Cheshire, Halton and Warrington schools can visit for free.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for schools to engage with their children and young people on topics ranging from fire and road safety, to drugs and alcohol, cyber security and gender identity in a way that is fresh, interactive and is going to leave a lasting impression.”

If your school would like to visit Safety Central, all you need to do is arrange transport to and from the organisation, which is easily accessible to most of the county in under an hour.

Hazel Crampton, Mark Shone, Ant Carney and Nikki Whitall, the Safety Central Team

The centre’s two pioneering programmes Safety Quest and Lessons4Life offer essential safety and lifeskills lessons for Year 5 and 6 pupils at key stage 2 and Year 9 pupils at key stage 3, delivered in a fun and inspiring way. Promoting key themes of wellbeing, personal safety and citizenship, the programmes are available as a half day or full day experience, with core and optional activities to suit your school’s specific needs.

Deputy chief fire officer Mark Cashin said: “Safety Central’s programmes will not only be targeted at schools, but also new parents, older people and the carers of people who need support to live. They will cover the hazards that they are most likely to encounter in and around their homes and communities and are devised and written with the aim of reducing accidental deaths and injuries from fire, at home, on the road and in the community.”

Cllr Stef Nelson, deputy chair Cheshire Fire Authority said: “This is an exciting development that will benefit this and future generations as we strive to achieve our vision of a Cheshire where there are no deaths, injuries or damage from fires and other emergencies. Safety Central, the area’s first purpose-built education and life skills facility, will deliver educational programmes in an interactive way to ensure visitors to the centre take away important safety information.”

Safety Central is currently only able to accept bookings for our Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and bespoke group visits. Details of our new parents’ and older peoples’ sessions will be published in early 2017.

If you have questions about the programmes, please don’t hesitate to call us during office hours on 01606 868700. More information and news about the centre can be found at http://www.safetycentral.org.uk