PRIMARY school children from across Wiltshire have been learning the importance of fire safety this month, thanks to Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Throughout next two weeks, the fire service will be working with partner agencies including Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Council and Aster Communities to run the Junior Good Citizen programme for year six students.

The scheme is designed to help children avoid putting themselves at risk of accident or injury, by raising their awareness of situations where something could happen.

It also encourages them to respond appropriately to emergency situations, and shows how being a ‘good citizen’ can create a safer community.

As part of the programme, youth engagement advisors are running an exercise where children enter a room set up like a bedsit.

The children work in small teams to identify the hazards and feedback to the ‘homeowner’ the issues they have identified, as well as solutions to the problems.

Yasmine Ellis, young persons’ development manager with Wiltshire FRS, said that the emphasis was on the children having an interactive, fun learning experience before moving from primary to secondary school.

“We have a team of youth engagement advisors who visit schools throughout the year, so these young people should have already learned the theory of fire safety,” she added.

“When they arrive with us at Junior Good Citizen, they can reinforce what they have learnt at school in a practical environment. This encourages them to actively participate in the visit and to think for themselves, which in turn helps them to develop a healthy and safer lifestyle.”

Junior Good Citizen is being held at the Scout Headquarters in Potterne Wick until July 3.