SAFETY FIRST. Year Two pupil Laura (left) and Year Three’s Evie with fellow schoolmates at Sticklands Primary in Evershot. Joining them to try out the road safety kit are Battens personal injury solicitor Hannah Brown (rear left) and Sticklands headteacher Kathy McCann
Hundreds of young children have begun receiving life-saving lessons in road safety after schools responded positively to help from a Dorset law firm’s charity arm.
Battens Solicitors Charitable Trust has made up to £18,000 available for schools through its campaign.
Individual donations of £200 were pledged to more than 40 schools to spend as they wish on road safety lessons.
Others are able to access a dedicated resource kit with a ‘street feet’ simulated road layout.
The kit helps children to learn through hands-on, guided role plays involving mini road signs, traffic lights and tabards.
Some of the kits have been made available on a ‘free loan’ basis thanks to a tie-up with the Weymouth-based SafeWise safety education partnership.
Such has been the level of demand since the initiative was launched in November, the loan packs are currently booked out until the end of February 2014 though Battens have pledged to ensure they continue to be available after that.
Among the first schools to receive its own resource pack is Sticklands Primary in Evershot.
Battens Charitable Trust was set up to aid good causes in the community. Last year the trust donated more than £31,000 to charities throughout Dorset and Somerset.
Battens is a Legal 500 firm with offices in Weymouth, Dorchester, Sherborne and Yeovil.
To request a loan pack, schools should contact SafeWise in Weymouth on 01305 753050.
