Schoolchildren across North Wales are set to benefit from a life skills lesson as Wales & West Utilities steps in to pay transport costs to take pupils to a special learning centre.
Wales & West Utilities, which provides the local gas emergency service and runs the gas network in the area, is playing Santa and helping 38 pupils from Ysgol y Llys in Prestatyn to visit DangerPoint Safety Education Centre in a bid to equip pupils with vital safety and health skills.
The support with transport will help pupils from some of the most ‘at need’ schools in North Wales visit the centre so that they can further their learning and understanding about the common dangers they might encounter in their local environments.
Wales & West Utilities is one of DangerPoint’s stakeholder partners and has just confirmed another year of support for the Centre. It has an area dedicated to helping to keep children safe from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and teaching them what to do if they smell gas.
Mr Rhys Griffith from Ysgol y Llys was thrilled to receive the news that Wales & West Utilities was to pay transport costs for the 38 Year 6 pupils. He said:
“This is so helpful, it allows our pupils the opportunity to access, and learn from, a great external educational facility. We are really very grateful for this support; it gives our Year 6 children the chance to go on a trip that will really help prepare them for the future.
“Wales & West Utilities has come up trumps at, what can be, a very expensive time of year for families. We believe it’s vital to give pupils the chance to learn more about their environment and this transport funding will allow us to use our budget to further their experiences after the visit. On behalf of all pupils and staff we’d like to say a big thank you.”
Cat Harvey, Deputy Manager at DangerPoint, said:
“The centre is built as a realistic village containing shops, roads and houses with interactive scenarios that present potentially difficult or dangerous situations – all of which give pupils the opportunities to discuss their understanding and thoughts. We are grateful to our sponsors for their commitment and I am delighted that Wales & West Utilities has been able to further help our visitors.”
DangerPoint, which is based in Talacre in Flintshire, opened its doors in October 2005 and has made an invaluable contribution to the education of children, young people and vulnerable adults from across the north Wales area. The award winning charity has, to date, educated over 62,500 visitors with its safety messages.
Wales & West Utilities Communications Manager, Elizabeth Warwick, said:
“We are delighted to be able to help some of the most ‘at need’ schools across our area and bring pupils from Ysgol y Llys to the Centre.
“At Wales & West Utilities we are committed to helping to get key safety messages over to youngsters and our partnership with Lifeskills does just that. These are essential skills that will equip future generations to help keep them safe in their everyday lives.”
Wales & West Utilities provides the gas emergency service across the south west of England and Wales. If anyone smells gas, thinks they have a gas leak, or suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, they should call us on 0800 111 999 and our engineers will be there to help, day or night.
The company is also carrying out a multi-million-pound 30-year mains replacement programme, across Wales and the south west of England, which began in 2002. Old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings are being replaced with new long-lasting plastic pipes with a lifespan of more than 80 years.