Thousands of children receive reflective arm bands to support road safety this winter
Co-op Academies Trust are supporting Co-op Funeralcare’s Be Safe, Be Seen Campaign this October.
The winter campaign is designed to promote road safety and encourages children to take precautions during darker evenings - particularly as the clocks changed on 29th October, making the nights darker.
As part of this campaign, Co-op Funeralcare has donated 5000 high visibility reflective arm bands to every primary school within the Trust.
Off the back of this campaign, Co-op Funeralcare are now supporting the Trust’s secondary academies in their road safety efforts as well, by donating more reflective arm bands to help students cycle or walk to school safely.
They are raising money to support a bike club at Co-op Academy Belle Vue, following the success of a similar project at Co-op Academy Walkden in Manchester.
Walkden successfully implemented the club, with the support of Greater Manchester Police, who donated 17 stolen and unclaimed bikes left in storage.
The bikes were put to good use to help students get to school on time, in a more sustainable and cost effective way.
Daniel Stevenson, Funeralcare Operations Manager North West and North Wales, said:
“It is great being able to raise awareness and support on such an important safety measure in our local communities and Academies. As a constant worried parent on my own children’s wellbeing, it is great to support on projects like these in a fun and engaging way to help make sure our children stay safe.”
Head of Community Development at Co-op Academies Trust, Elizabeth Garrity, says of the campaign:
“It’s a great way to get children talking and thinking about road safety. It provides an important opportunity to discuss how we stay safe during darker nights when travelling to and from school. The Trust’s Community Team is working with Co-op Funeralcare to develop campaigns that benefit our local communities and that always as the question; ‘how can we help each other to succeed’. Co-op Funeralcare’s support for Co-op Academy Walkden is a great example this.”