School children spread safety message

Published by Craig Downs for Frank Haslam Milan in Housing and also in Communities

Children at a Richmond school are urging people to keep safe around building sites.

Youngsters at Richmond Church of England Primary School have teamed up with community regeneration specialist Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) North East to launch a poster campaign to be used at a major development project in the town.

Dozens of children at the school entered a competition to create a poster that would warn the community about the importance of health and safety at construction sites.

The winning designs have now been used on hoardings at FHM’s Greyfriars development on Lile Close – which will see a new extra care scheme for older residents built.

FHM has carried out a number of visits to the school since the development began last year, showing an interactive DVD to highlight the dangers of playing on building sites, health and safety and the importance of site security. 

Lorraine O'Neil, CSR Co-ordinator for FHM, said: “We realise how important it is to talk to children in the areas we are delivering projects to make sure they understand the dangers of playing on and near construction sites.

“The poster campaign has been a great way of doing this. We’ve been able to work closely with the school and also get our message out to the wider community.

“All of the designs were fantastic and I’d like to thank the children for their efforts.”

FHM is working in partnership with Housing 21, North Yorkshire Council and Richmondshire District Council to deliver the £4.3 million Greyfriars development.

The scheme will replace Richmondshire District Council’s sheltered housing scheme at Lile Close and the County Council’s residential care home at Richmond House with 39 two bedroom apartments for older people offering a range of care and support needs.  

Di Robinson, Headteacher at the school, said: “The school is very close to the development site so it was great for FHM to come and talk to the pupils.

“The company has been fantastic and it is great to see them working so closely with the local community.

“It’s also a great opportunity for the children to understand that learning can go on outside of school.”

The competition winners were Uchenna Anyadiegwu, Ruby Humble Jones and Michael Ruocco, with each pupil receiving a £10 book voucher as a prize.