Nearly 2,000 Primary 6 pupils across Renfrewshire have taken part in a safety event to help them stay aware in their communities.
Running for over 20 years, the Safe Kids 2025 event recently took place over three weeks at the SMiSA Stadium in Paisley.
Pupils learned helpful tips about staying safe online, near water and railways, the risks of drugs and alcohol, and what to do in an emergency. In one interactive workshop, kids learned the dangers of walking on the railway lines by wearing 3D virtual reality goggles.
Darren O’Hanlon, a P6 teacher at Kirklandneuk Primary School, said: “Safe Kids is always an enjoyable and informative event for our Primary 6 pupils. The representatives from the various organisations were engaging and shared valuable information for the children to take away.
“The pupils responded enthusiastically and left the event chatting about the new things they had learned to help keep themselves safe when out and about. The input from Police Scotland about online safety seems to have had a real impact on the children as it is still something they talk about regularly.”
The event was coordinated by Renfrewshire Council’s Community Learning and Development Service in partnership with the Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership.
This year’s event had new workshops from Alcoholics Anonymous, NHS 24, St Andrews First Aid/Heart Start, and Young and Equally Safe. Returning partners included Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, British Transport Police, and various teams from Renfrewshire Council, including civil contingencies, gender-based violence, and road safety.
Councillor Marie McGurk, Convenor of Communities and Housing Policy Board, praised the event saying:
“Helping young people understand how to stay safe is one of the most important things we can do. These workshops give them the tools to make smart decisions, recognise risks, and know how to respond if something goes wrong.
“The partners delivering these workshops are experts in their field, and some have lived experience of the dangers they talk to the kids about, so it’s a unique opportunity for the kids to not only have a fun day out, but to learn from professionals outside the traditional classroom.
“I’m grateful to all the partners who make this programme such a success year after year.”
All photos: Photo Credit Renfrewshire Council