Rotary backs pupil safety initiative

Schools across the UK are being invited to take part in a national pupil safety campaign, Rotary Safety Satchels. Through the scheme Primary school children are being offered a high visibility satchel and Secondary pupils a unisex sports bag – both free of charge.

The campaign objective is to improve pupil road safety - put simply, a visible pupil is a safer pupil.

Primary pupils are being encouraged to participate in a national curriculum sponsorship exercise (grow a Sunflower, Flora Watch, Bird Watch, Road Safety) to obtain their free high visibility road safety satchel - details can be found at www.safetysatchels.com.

Teachers can also receive a small number of free high visibility safety jackets for those times when they are escorting children off site.

Secondary school pupils are also being challenged to participate in a national curriculum sponsorship exercise (Sports Action, Road Safety).

Every pupil completing a set task (chosen by the teacher) can acquire a free ‘pin-down’ high-security high-visibility unisex sports bag. The bags have been specially designed to reduce touchline and locker- room theft as well as promoting road safety through high visibility. Each school will also receive four sets of free high-visibility professional sports training jackets.

The scheme is fully backed by Rotary and the police, and any excess funds raised will be distributed to the Make a Wish Foundation, The Association of Child Hospices and The Wild Life Trusts.

For further information about this initiative visit the campaign website, www.safetysatchels.com, or contact the organiser Mark Large, m.large@onetel.net.