Over 800 P7 pupils from primary schools across the Lisburn City Council area attended the recent ‘Bee Safe’ event, organised by the Council’s Environmental Health Service.

The Public Health Agency and the Council funded the five-day event, which provided invaluable information on personal safety to the young people of Lisburn.

A wide range of safety issues were covered by Bee Safe including: bus safety, fire safety, safety in the home, staying safe around dogs, safe use of the Internet, staying safe around electricity, personal safety and how to act if approached by strangers.

Councillor Luke Poots, Vice-Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, speaking about the initiative, said: “Bee Safe is a proactive, multi-agency community safety initiative specifically aimed at P7 pupils. The organisations participating at the event delivered interactive scenarios and role-play exercises to promote personal safety and develop community awareness to the pupils in advance of moving into post-primary education.

"The move to ‘big school’ can be daunting for the pupils and the agencies involved in Bee Safe wish to ensure that the process is as stress free and safe as possible. Each agency present encouraged those pupils present to think for themselves. As the pupils transfer, it is expected that they will have to undertake more personal responsibility and will experience new situations.

"Bee Safe has been designed to help young people develop life skills with regards to safety. The topics covered included how to react in a dangerous situation, make a contribution to crime prevention, avoid becoming the victim of crime, understand the role of the emergency services and also how to develop good relationships with various authorities."

The Council’s Environmental Health Service, along with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Northern Ireland Electricity, Translink, the Council’s Dog Wardens and Home Safety Officer interacted with the pupils in this initiative.

Councillor Poots added: “It is excellent that the local primary schools take the time to bring their pupils to this event that ensures those they have nurtured and educated over the last seven years are given the opportunity to learn how to stay safe in many different situations.

“On behalf of the Council, I would like to extend thanks to all the agencies involved over the course of the week long event. I hope that they will continue to work with the new Council’s Environmental Health Unit in future Bee Safe events in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area, as I believe this initiative is very beneficial to P7 pupils,” he concluded.

Pictured: (l-r) Noah from Killowen Primary School; Constable Patterson, PSNI; Councillor Luke Poots, Vice-Chair of the Council's Environmental Services Committee; Susan O'Neill, Child Safety Bus Co-Ordinator, Translink; and Jody from Killowen Primary School.