Around 2,500 pupils from across Havering are taking part in this year’s Junior Citizen Scheme, to learn life skills to help keep them safe in their communities.
In what is the 10th year of the scheme, youngsters who will soon be making the leap from primary school to secondary school, will learn various skills.
These include how to travel safely on public transport and have awareness of keeping safe from the dangers of knife crime and drugs.
Plus what they need to do in various emergency situations.
Havering Council’s community safety and enforcement teams run the scheme, together with their partners.
These include the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, Safer Transport Police and Road Safety.
Also, Thames Water and CLG (Change Grow Live), a charity offering advice around the dangers of drugs and alcohol use.
There will also be sessions on what actions the pupils can take to help the environment around them, such as not dropping litter.
Advice and information are presented via several workshops where the pupils will experience real-life situations.
They are then asked to role-play in a series of challenges and scenarios.
Each school will be awarded points for their knowledge and for demonstrating what they have learned during the sessions.
At the end of the fortnight the school with the most points, will be awarded with a shield and certificates presented by the Mayor of Havering, Councillor Gerry O’Sullivan.
The Mayor of Havering, Councillor Gerry O’Sullivan, said:
“I was delighted to go along and help celebrate what is 10 years of the Junior Citizen Scheme this year.
“The scheme gives our young people, who will soon be making the leap from primary school into secondary school, the chance to learn various life skills.
"This will help prepare them to have the confidence for the change and challenges they may face in the future.”
PC Wayne Hopkins, Schools Officer for Havering Police, said:
“This year marks 10 years of co-hosting the Junior Citizen Scheme in partnership with Havering Council.
“As a school’s officer for Havering, I can see the value given to those starting their transition to senior school by equipping them with key personal safety advice.
“Thank you to all those who attended this year and good luck to the winning school.”