‘Seatbelt On?’ says Sainsbury’s

A supermarket in Leeds is supporting the council’s ‘Seatbelt On?’ campaign by displaying signs in its car parks.

The Sainsbury’s store at Colton, Leeds, will display the signs at the exits to its car park to remind shoppers to belt up before they leave. Children from Colton Primary School will help Spike, the road safety hedgehog, put up the signs and hand out trolley tokens to shoppers to help them to remember to wear their seatbelts.

******************** Media opportunity ********************

Media are invited to the Sainsbury’s store at Colton on Wednesday, 8 July at 10am to take photographs of the store manager and Spike the road safety hedgehog putting up ‘Seatbelt on?’ signs in the car park, helped by pupils from Colton Primary School. Representatives from the council’s road safety team and the neighbourhood police team will be on hand for comments.
Please contact Claire Macklam on 0113 395 1578 to arrange attendance.

******************** Media opportunity ********************

Recent figures show that, although the total number of traffic casualties is decreasing, death and serious injury sustained by people in cars remains static. In recent surveys, the council’s road safety team found that as many as 40% of adult car users chose not to use safety belts, and many failed to ensure the safety of their younger passengers.

Mark Gilman, manager of Sainsburys at Colton said:
“The figures supplied by the road safety team are really concerning. At Sainsbury’s, we’re committed to making a positive difference to the local community and want to encourage our customers to follow the advice of the ‘Seatbelt On?’ campaign and reduce their risk of injury.”

Councillor Stuart Andrew, lead member for road safety said:
“It is great news that Sainsbury’s are helping us to promote this programme.

“Too many people think that because they are only making a short journey to the shops they don’t need to wear their seatbelt, but people are just as likely to be killed or seriously injured during a short journey as a long journey. These signs will serve as a useful reminder to shoppers to take an extra couple of seconds to belt up before setting off on their journey home.”

The aim of ‘Seatbelt on?’ is to provide car occupants with some straightforward advice of which they should already be aware - that they should belt up for their own safety and for that of their passengers. As the campaign progresses the Police will become more active in enforcing the rules for people who still choose to put their own lives and the lives of others in danger by not wearing their seatbelts.

ENDS
Additional info
139 killed or seriously injured on the roads of Leeds in 2008.

It is hoped that the ‘Seatbelt On?’ campaign will result in a 30% improvement in car occupant casualties within three years.

In December 2008 and February 2009, Leeds City Council’s road safety promotion team conducted several seatbelt surveys in various areas of Leeds. Out of the 2475 vehicles observed, 25% (601) of the drivers were found not to be wearing safety belts. Of 1163 child passengers observed, 406 (35%) were unsecured in the back of a car.

Some areas of Leeds were significantly worse that this. In some surveys 40% of adults and 60% of children were observed travelling unrestrained, and at one survey site 89% of adults and all children were travelling unrestrained.

A survey by insurers Liverpool Victoria found that 2.3m drivers do not always wear seatbelts, and government figures suggest only seven in 10 adults wear rear seatbelts(1). By making such a choice they run a significantly increased risk of severe injury during a road crash. In 2007, of the 1,432 car occupants killed, research indicates that some 34 per cent were not wearing a seat belt(2).
(1) Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety
(2) Think! website


For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk

Shock tactics to drive home ‘Seatbelt On?’ message

Students from Primrose High School will be cut out of a car wreck on Monday to illustrate the horrific outcome of being involved in a crash where the occupants were not wearing safety belts.

The presentation, performed by West Yorkshire Fire Service, will emphasise to young people how wearing a seatbelt can make the difference between life and death.

******************** MEDIA OPPORTUNITY ********************

Media are invited to attend Primrose High School, Stoney Rock Lane, Leeds, LS9 7HD at 1.45pm on Monday, 6 July to take photographs and interview members of the council’s road safety team, firefighters and students.
Please contact Claire Macklam on 0113 395 1578 if you will be attending.

******************** MEDIA OPPORTUNITY ********************

Recent figures show that, although the total number of traffic casualties is decreasing in Leeds, death and serious injury sustained by people in cars remains static. In recent surveys, the council’s road safety team found that as many as 40% of adult car users chose not to use safety belts, and many failed to ensure the safety of their younger passengers.

Councillor Stuart Andrew, lead member for road safety said:
“Hopefully, this is as close as these young people will ever get to an extrication. This is as real as it gets, without the body bags and blood, and hopefully these images will stick with them and remind them to ‘belt up’ whenever they get into a car.

“Many teenagers seem to think that its not ‘cool’ to belt up when going out, but it is crucial in helping to prevent the needless deaths and horrific injuries which occur on the roads each year. Passengers may not be able to control how the vehicle in which they are travelling is being driven, but ultimately they do have control over whether they choose to wear a seat belt or not. It is this simple action that could potentially save them from life long scarring, lasting injury or even death.”

The aim of the ‘Seatbelt on?’ campaign is to provide car occupants with some straightforward advice of which they should already be aware - that they should belt up for their own safety and for that of their passengers. As the campaign progresses the Police will become more active in enforcing the rules for people who still choose to put their own lives and the lives of others in danger by not wearing their seatbelts.

ENDS

Additional info
139 killed or seriously injured on the roads of Leeds in 2008.
In 2007, of the 1,432 car occupants killed in the UK, research indicates that some 34 per cent were not wearing a seat belt. (THINK! website)

Young drivers represent 13% of the driving population but account for 32% of the driver deaths on our roads (2005 figures - Brake, the road safety charity)

More information from the following websites:
http://www.fmg.org.uk (For my girlfriend) - 60% of all female road fatalities are as car passengers.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/focusareas/invechiclesafety/seatbelts?page=Overview
(The Department for Transport’s ‘Think’ road safety website)

You are twice as likely to die in a crash if you don't wear a seat belt.
Brake http://www.brake.org.uk/

For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk

Screen roles for Leeds school students in film tackling anti-social behaviour

36 young people from six Leeds high schools will be starring in and helping to produce a new film aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour.

Filming starts this week on Y ABC? which tells the story of close friends Dexy and Sam. Both come to the attention of the authorities after their youthful misbehaviour takes a turn for the worse, and both receive Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.

For Dexy, this is a catalyst to turn his life around for the better. For Sam, it is not. The story traces their parallel lives and their very different outcomes.

As well as acting in the film, young people will also be involved in the directing, filming and editing decisions of the final piece.

The completed film will be available to high schools and youth centres in Leeds as a teaching aid.

The film has been organised and funded through Safer Leeds, the city’s crime and disorder reduction partnership. This is one of a number of initiatives being developed by Leeds City Council’s antisocial behaviour unit to discourage people from engaging in antisocial behaviour before it becomes a major problem.

Filming is taking place this week and the final package is expected to be ready by the end of the 2009 summer term.

Media Opportunity:
Join the cast and the crew on set at Stanningley Park for the final day of filming. Young people on the cast and crew will be available for interview. The final scene being filmed is a climactic fight sequence.
Date: Friday 3 July 2009
Time: 14:00 onwards
Place: Stanningley Park, Intake Lane. The park is quite large, so contact Aileen Barrass on the day, tel 07891 272123 for detailed directions.

Dominic Alexander, 19, from City of Leeds School who plays Dexy in the film says:
“Most people my age know people like Dexy and Sam. They can be a real pain, in and out of school. This film shows how it doesn’t need to be like that. People can change and there’s help for them if they want to and if they help themselves.”

Ben Burman, 17, from Outwood, who plays Sam adds:
“I’m really looking forward to acting in this film, and the experience it will get me. Sam is the bad guy in this film, and just doesn’t get what a mess he’s making of his life. We all know lads like Sam and I hope people who watch the film won’t make the same mistakes.”

Councillor Les Carter, chair of Safer Leeds and executive board member responsible for community safety said:
“Our work to takle anti-social behaviour is about so much more than just Asbos. It’s great to see so many young people taking part in this film both as actors and producers. I’m sure its strong stance against anti-social behaviour will be a great help for people trying to get the message across in schools.”

Notes:
• Safer Leeds is the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) dedicated to tacking drugs and crime in the city. It is a partnership organisation between a number of local agencies including Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police, NHS Leeds, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and West Yorkshire Police Authority.
• Young people taking part in the production include: Dominic Alexander, City Of Leeds; Karl Briggs, Crawshaw; Hayden Doran, Crawshaw; Hayley Firth, Crawshaw; Becky Gothard, Crawshaw; Jack Hogg, Crawshaw; Grace Howgate, Crawshaw; Rebecca Hudson, Crawshaw; Claire Jennings, Crawshaw; Amy Lake, Crawshaw; David Pearson, Crawshaw; Ben Randall, Crawshaw; Chris Raven, Crawshaw; Max Roe, Crawshaw; Olivia Roebuck, Crawshaw; David Swain, Crawshaw; Leah Wilson-Sommers, Crawshaw; Olivia Amati, Farnley Park High; Charlotte Ford, Farnley Park High; Charlotte Mills, Farnley Park High; Ayton, Grangefield; Bradley Burrow, Grangefield; Jonathan Gittins, Grangefield; Luke Kitson, Grangefield; Cameron Mclachlan, Grangefield; Aaron Pall, Grangefield; Charlotte Thornton, Grangefield; Ben Burman, Outwood; James Harseltine, Priesthorpe; Elly Moore, Priesthorpe; Jamie Shears, Priesthorpe; Vicky Clapshaw, West Leeds High; Katie Elsworth, West Leeds High Connor Hughes, West Leeds High; Megan Humphries, West Leeds High; Jack Michael, West Leeds High.
• Technical support for the production and filming is being provided by The Production Company, Yorkshire. They are a video production company based in Farsley, Leeds, who specialise in making short topical films on behalf of Leeds City Council, and local businesses as well as major blue chip clients.

/ENDS

For further information contact:
John Donegan
(0113) 247 4450 (mon-wed am) (0113) 395 1510 (wed pm-fri)
john.donegan@leeds.gov.uk

City’s students celebrate social enterprise success

Two Leeds schools have won honours at the Yorkshire-wide social entrepreneur awards.

Hosted by Education Leeds, the event was attended by the founder of the Big Issue, John Bird, and more than 80 students from schools across the region who competed in a range of categories at the Regional Social Enterprise awards.

Competing against schools from Bradford, Sheffield, Skipton, Scunthorpe and Wakefield, Bruntcliffe High School in Morley won the Best Stand, Best Concept and Best Business Plan awards, as well as finishing runner-up in the Best Social Enterprise and Best Marketing Plan awards.

The awards related to the school’s various enterprises which include a garden centre, workshop, arts and crafts, hair and nail bar and shop which involves around 45 young people. The school’s main focus is on the production of garden products and pet homes but it also set up allotments and gardens in local schools and Gildersome to help support the project.

Ryan Hirst, from Bruntcliffe High School’s social enterprise department, said:
“It is fantastic that the work we have done for the last four years has been recognised in this way. Our project was originally set up to work with students who were underachieving in traditional educational routes so to be champions of Yorkshire and Humberside is a testament to how hard everybody has worked.

“The social enterprise aspect which has developed over the last twelve months has focused the students and captured their imagination about what is possible in the future. I believe it could be the building block for better schools and better communities.”

John Smeaton Community College in Cross Gates and Whinmoor was runner-up in the Best Stand award in relation to its timber signs business.

Held at the Holiday Inn in Garforth, the awards celebrated the achievements of students aged between 12 and 16 years from across Yorkshire and Humber who are running social enterprises that contribute to their schools and communities. The Leeds-based nominees had already won their respective groups at the Leeds awards earlier this month.

Big Issue founder John Bird met the pupils and passed on his knowledge of launching and running a successful social enterprise. He heard presentations from the teams and said he had learnt important lessons from the pupils.

Commenting on the awards, John Bird said:
“It was a phenomenal day and very humbling. I came up to give a speech about what I know and have gone away learning lessons from the schools and pupils. There is no doubt in my mind that Yorkshire is leading the way in social enterprise. The Business Link connection with the social enterprise programme in schools is really important as is the work Education Leeds is doing. I wouldn’t have missed this event for the world.”

Before making their business presentations to a panel of judges the teams received motivational advice from Lauren Craig, founder and CEO of Thinking Flowers?. An emerging leader in the cultural and creative sector, teenager Lauren set up her business in London to provide innovative floral design, consultancy, green waste disposal and events.

Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds, said:
“Many schools in Leeds are already involved in running and developing a profitable business based on social enterprise principles which are having a positive impact on their school and local community.

“There are many benefits for schools which take part and many see a positive impact on behaviour, attendance, engagement and achievement.

“It is brilliant that the hard work, determination and skills of our children and young people are being recognised and I would like to congratulate everyone who took part.”

Education Leeds Education Business Partnership is encouraging all schools not involved in the programme to take part in future events.

It is being supported by the Young Peoples Enterprise Forum (YPEF), as part of Yorkshire Forward’s £2.5m embedding enterprise programme. Yorkshire Forward who is funding the programme wants to equip the students with business skills as well as the confidence to set up their own enterprises when they leave school.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Education Business Partnership
Education Leeds Education Business Partnership (EBP) is supported by funding from Leeds Local Enterprise Growth Initiative and West Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council. It works to create links between schools and businesses.

Employers have a vital part to play in preparing young people for future careers and to help them acquire general life skills. Education Leeds EBP creates opportunities for Employers to get involved with enterprise and other voluntary Education Business Link activities in Leeds schools.

Throughout this work they aim to achieve the following:
• Prepare young people for the world of work in particular and adult life in general
• Raise teacher awareness of the world of work to support the work-related curriculum
• Contribute to the raising of standards of achievement via work-related activities
• Support the business community in its need to create a world-class competitive workforce for the future.

The judging panel included: Silent Sheffield, Tea and Toast, PAL Consultancy, Re-Work, Active Regen, Leeds Trinity and All Saints, Bee Balloons, Leeds Industrial Mills, West Yorkshire Joint Services, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, NHS Leeds, Donisthorpe Hall, British Gas, LINPAC Packaging, Business Link Yorkshire, Education Leeds, the Moor Allerton Care Centre.

Dr John Bird MBE
John Bird (63) was a poor boy, orphan, thief, inmate, artist and poet before going on to found the ground-breaking social initiative that is The Big Issue. He was born shortly after the Second World War to a London-Irish family into slum-ridden Notting Hill. Homelessness, orphanages, crime and prison characterised much of his early life until his metamorphosis into a successful small businessman occurred in the 1980s.

Since setting up The Big Issue magazine and foundation to help the homeless help themselves some 16 years ago, John has become an authority on motivation and the ascendancy to achievement. Among the places he has spoken are the UN in New York, Nairobi and Istanbul, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. The UN Scroll of Honour, an MBE and the 2005/6 Beacon Prize for Creative Giving are just three of the many accolades and awards he has received.

John’s latest venture is called Wedge Card, a loyalty card aimed at revitalising the local high street. The card gives shoppers discounts at hundreds of independent businesses as well as raising money for local charities.

His autobiography ‘Some Luck’ explained much of John’s lack of fortune and his ascendancy out of the life of crime to social engineering. In 2007 he took part in the Quick Reads campaign and wrote the best-selling book ‘How to Change Your Life in Seven Steps’. He has recently remarried for the third time and has five children.

For media enquiries please contact:
Jon Crampton, Leeds City Council press office, 0113 3951577
Email: jon.crampton@leeds.gov.uk

New seating brings art to the heart of the city centre

Five new eye-catching sculpted stone seats have taken pride of place in a busy Leeds city centre shopping area.

Hidden from public view for over a week, the seats were finally unveiled last night in their new home at Albion Place. Hand sculpted by artist, Peter Yarwood, they are the crowning glory of the council’s new £1.3million repaving project for the street.

The project was funded by a public-private partnership involving Leeds City Council and with private sector funding from PPG, City Land Developments and RH Edmondson Properties Ltd and David Criddle, of 3 Albion Place.

Councillor Barry Anderson, Chair of the Leeds City Centre Partnership, said:

“We asked Peter to come up with something imaginative and eye-catching for the new seating area and that is what he did. We are absolutely delighted with the seats and I am sure shoppers will love them too.

“This project marks a shift in the city’s approach to city centre public realm improvements with the inclusion of inspiring public art and it is also an excellent example of what can be achieved by the council working in partnership with the private sector.

“We’ve already seen new businesses opening on Albion Place since the start of the street refurbishment and this project underlines Leeds City Council’s commitment to providing attractive public spaces in the city centre. During these difficult economic times we want to support businesses and invest in the centre to ensure Leeds remains a great place for people to come and shop.”

The artist, Peter Yarwood, has worked in towns and cities all over the UK including Gloucester, Sheffield and Salisbury. For this scheme he was asked to design something unique which complements its local environment.

Peter said:
“I’ve done a lot of research into the buildings and history on Albion Place and my designs reflect some of the local architecture.”

Albion Place is already home to an array of impressive Grade II listed buildings which include the former Leeds Club, the 19th Century Church Institute, the old YMCA and the former County Courts. Since the repaving scheme, this architecture is fully exposed and the open, uncluttered feel allows pride of place for the outdoor seating areas on the street.

ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact;
Sara Hyman, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3937
Email: sara.hyman@leeds.gov.uk