Police officers and representatives from a range of organisations are back on the road visiting schools across Kent to help keep students safe. The initiative, which began with Year Nine pupils at eight schools in Folkestone and Hythe throughout September, will continue with engagement days planned for Sittingbourne, Sheppey, and Medway in October and November.
These roadshows include eight sessions throughout each day, addressing critical issues such as online safety, substance abuse dangers, and the importance of healthy relationships. The events are organized by the Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) in collaboration with Kent County Council (KCC) Social Services, the Metanoia Project, Homestart, and Stagecoach. The Metanoia project focuses on educating young people about the dangers of knife crime, while other partners provide information on safety and well-being.
Sam Griffin from Ashford Radio is hosting the sessions, which aim to raise awareness among students, encouraging them to make informed choices and stay safe. The goal is to educate and engage young people in topics that directly affect their everyday lives.
Sergeant Glen Rickersey, Kent Police’s Child-Centred Policing Co-ordinator, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the initiative: “We are very pleased to have the chance to discuss such a wide range of topics with young people, with the help of a variety of experts. We’ve seen how well received the events have been in Ashford and now Folkestone and we look forward to taking them elsewhere in the county in the coming months.
Rory Love, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, emphasized the importance of keeping children safe: “Enabling children to grow up in safe environments is one of our key priorities. Whether it’s safety from knife crime, online threats, or a host of other dangers, we are pleased to welcome Kent Police and other partners into schools to help share the tools and messages to keep students safe. It is important that we empower our children to speak out when they are worried, and these sessions will encourage pupils to tell a trusted adult when things do not feel right.
The school roadshows have already had a positive impact in Ashford and Folkestone, and organizers hope that the upcoming sessions in Swale, Sheppey, and Medway will have a similar effect. By addressing pressing safety issues in schools, the initiative aims to empower students to make informed decisions, seek support when needed, and ultimately stay safe.
