Blog on the frog

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.

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