Balderton school benefits from important water safety session hosted by District Council and partners

The event is part of a series which started back in June 2019 to educate people across the district on the importance of safe behaviour around lakes, rivers and canals.

It also links in with Safer Streets 5 which is taking place in the Balderton area. Funding has supported a number of improvements and initiatives in the community including improved lighting and CCTV along with attitude and behaviour change sessions.

Activities and talks during the safety sessions were run Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Nottinghamshire Police.

The event was held at John Hunt Primary School, Newark, and was attended by more than 50 year 5 pupils from John Hunt Primary School.

Sessions included a Nottinghamshire Police Q&A session with one class whilst Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue did a presentation on water and fire safety with the other. The class were shown how Fire Officers dress up in their fire suit and breathing apparatus and then they did a Q&A session.

Afterwards, both classes were given a tour of the fire engine and tried using a throwline. They also had the chance to explore the police riot van, handle riot shields and helmets, and even sit in the holding cell.   

The pupils were also given hi-vis safety packs and safety booklets for further home learning. These booklets were created through partnership working between Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, the District Council, Nottinghamshire Police and other partners. It is now being used as a national educational resource across the country.

District Council officers also provided learning materials about the Councils Motion for the Ocean theme and Balderton Lakes nature facts for teachers to use in their classrooms.

Councillor Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s vital that we do what we can to ensure young people are well informed about the dangers of water and the risk it can be to life. These sessions are a great way to really get that message across in an interactive way that the pupils can enjoy as they learn.”

“Our partnership work with Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has been strong and we’ve worked together to launch a number of activities and initiatives over the past year to create a safer Newark and Sherwood.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said: "Ensuring the safety of our young people around water is a crucial responsibility, especially in communities like Balderton where open water areas can pose serious risks.

“This collaborative event with our partners has provided vital, hands-on education, helping students understand the potential dangers and equipping them with the knowledge to stay safe.

“By engaging with local schools and delivering these interactive sessions, we are fostering a culture of safety and awareness that will have long-term benefits for the entire community."

Councillor Jane Buxton, Chair of Balderton Parish Council said: “Hopefully, by working together as a partnership with our Safer Street partners and by pooling our local knowledge and experience, the outcomes will be more beneficial for our community.

“Sessions like this where we work with local partners and people in our community, we see a real benefit to the area. I sincerely hope our residents soon start seeing the values of this project and feel safer when out and about in Balderton.”

Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood said: “Educational days like this are so vital for us and our partners to really send out a strong message about water safety and the tragic consequences that could arise for anyone of any age.

“Speaking to children who could potentially be likely to go to rivers, lakes, and canals is so important for us and our partners to reiterate safety messages and start a discussion about the correct behaviour when you’re close to open water.

“It was great for officers to get to interact with children from the school and I hope they went away from the talk full of advice and how to keep themselves safe around water.”

Keil Fraser, Watch Manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It is imperative that we ensure that young people are safe in and around water. It may seem inviting and fun, especially in the summer, but sadly not many people are aware of the dangers.

“Having the opportunity to be able to deliver events like this means we can raise awareness to prevent future incidents from happening.

“We will continue to work with Newark and District Council and Nottinghamshire Police to deliver more sessions, including a session on fire safety.”

Open water is cold, may contain hidden debris which can result in injuries and even drowning and often much deeper than people think. In addition, rivers, canals and lakes are often polluted by toxic chemicals which can lead to illness.

For more information about water safety visit: https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/waterandriversafety/