Flashpoint Lifeskills Centre in Bodmin, the exciting interactive learning centre which simulates potentially dangerous and hazardous situations to deliver safety messages, has been awarded re-accreditation by the LASER Alliance. 

Flashpoint Manager Elllen McConnell accepted the certificate at the centre in Bodmin on Monday 09 September on behalf of Flashpoint from Cassius Francis, LASER Alliance Co-ordinator and Youth Liaison Worker for The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA),.

Cassius Francis said: “What particularly impressed me on my first visit to Flashpoint Lifeskills Centre was that pupils had visited before to do training on first aid. That spoke volumes about the culture of embedding messages and supporting the continuing development of children’s risk competence.

“Manager Ellen McConnell, her staff, colleagues and volunteers deserve great credit for the dedication shown to support pupils in reaching their full potential.”

Flashpoint features a range of scenarios including kitchen, farm and beach safety; how to make a 999 emergency call; and how to be wary of contact through the internet when not everyone may be who they say they are.

Run by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, Flashpoint offers hands on practical advice to children and to the learning disabled as staff and volunteers guide visitors through 12 scenarios giving practical advice on what to do if something goes wrong.

The LASER Alliance, which is hosted by RoSPA and sponsored by the Gas Safety Trust, brings together a range of UK-based organisations and individuals that believe in children and young people “learning about safety by experiencing risk”, which is where the acronym LASER comes from.

Accreditation is awarded to providers of practical safety education who demonstrate their commitment to educational excellence and quality. The recognition is a marker to schools and other organisations that they can be confident in using the provider for LASER activities.

Flashpoint Lifeskills Centre first achieved LASER-accredited status under the stringent conditions in 2007 and again in 2011.  It has again been tested under strict criteria to prove the quality of the experience provided for children and learning disabled visiting the centre.

“Feedback from schools and community groups who have visited the centre has shown that the practical hands-on approach really helps reinforce safety messages,” said Ellen McConnell, Manager of Flashpoint Lifeskills Centre.

Cornwall Council cabinet member for homes and communities Geoff Brown said: “We should all appreciate the value of the Flashpoint experience which contributes to helping us achieve safer communities. I want to pay tribute to the hard work of the staff and particularly the volunteers in achieving this award.  It is always great to see visitors to Flashpoint so animated and interested in all the different scenarios.  A facility like Flashpoint is hugely important and I would urge schools and any other community groups to contact them to arrange a visit – you’ll find it very worthwhile.”

Ellen McConnell added: “I want to thank everyone who has helped with the accreditation process and in particular to the wonderful team of volunteers without whom the centre would not be able to carry out its valuable work.”

Flashpoint Lifeskills Centre on Normandy Way in Bodmin is available to groups and to schools all over Cornwall.

Latest posting from our colleagues at Warning Zone:

It’s an incredible thought that we are now at the start of our third academic year here on the lovely Frog Island; the tempus really does fugit. It’s beautiful down here by the river as autumn takes hold; mists rise from the river at sunrise, dew hangs from the cobwebs in the hedgerows, the wooded banks take on golden hues and skeins of geese soar into the reddening western sky each afternoon.  Well, the wet cobwebs bit is true anyway.

From 1995 to 2005, this time of year always meant Safety Squad, the 2 week temporary outdoor safety event organised by Crimebeat and Leicestershire Police with City and County Education Departments.  Two weeks of hoping the weather was going to hold, dewy grass-wet feet, children working in large groups and still only the capacity for 900 or so of them each year.  In many parts of the country these temporary events still continue and their organisers would give anything to have facilities like Warning Zone on their doorstep.  Here we are 8 years on and over 31,000 local Year 6 pupils have now learned so much from their experience at Warning Zone.   

The schools are back now with over 3000 children booked in to date and the phone ringing off the wall every day with new bookings.  The Volunteers’ Summer Day Out at Bosworth Field was enjoyed by all and a great way to say “thank you” to our guiding team.  This was quickly followed up by a couple of refresher training sessions for the guides.  These included a useful look at online safety courtesy of James Diamond, a trainer and consultant in e-safety and safeguarding who has volunteered his services to help us develop our knowledge in this area.  The sessions also gave our volunteers their first look at the new briefing film we shot during the summer and to hear about the findings of the recent volunteer survey they took part in.

Last week saw a fundraising golf day at Beedles Lake, East Goscote organised for Warning Zone by three local Lions clubs; Thurnby, Leicester Charnwood and Rothley & Soar Valley.  We are very grateful to them for their continued support.  We are also seeing a sudden take up on bookings for meeting rooms, more of which next month.