The Dangerpoint Centre in North Wales has been successful in gaining re- accreditation for the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge. Once again, the Centre has proven to be at the top of the class for education visits by being awarded the Quality Badge, which combines learning and safety into one easily recognisable indicator.

The LOtC Quality Badge is the only nationally recognised indicator of good quality educational provision and effective risk management. The award indicates that the Centre understands schools’ needs and can tailor services to fit in with both the current curriculum requirements and any specific requirements of the school. There are six high level generic quality indicators that establishments must achieve, which are:

1. The provider has a process in place to assist users to plan the learning experience effectively;
2. The provider provides accurate information about its services;
3. The provider provides activities or experiences which meet learner needs;
4. The provider reviews the experience and acts upon feedback;
5. The provider meets the needs of users; and
6. The provider has safety management processes in place to manage risk effectively.

Julie Evans, Centre Manager at DangerPoint said, ‘Receiving re-accreditation for the Quality Badge is a real achievement for all the staff here as it confirms that we offer young people the type of high quality learning experiences they really benefit from.’ You can find out more information about the award on the LOtC Quality Badge website.

Since opening the Centre in October 2005, DangerPoint has developed its core programme delivery to suit different age ranges and abilities of our visitors. For further information about the different programmes delivered at the Centre, please contact one of the team to discuss.

In July, DangerPoint welcomed colleagues from Safeside, the safety education centre based in Birmingham. The visit gave volunteers from the Centre the opportunity to tour DangerPoint with our team of Rangers, to gain a better understanding of how we operate. Following the tour, there was also an opportunity for volunteers from Safeside to ask any questions with staff from DangerPoint.

Feedback from the visit was very positive from the team at Safeside and Rob Hattersley, Education Co- ordinator said, “"Our volunteers really enjoyed visiting DangerPoint and seeing a different approach. Talking with DangerPoint Rangers helped them to understand a bit more about their own roles back at Safeside too. We would all like to thank Julie and the DangerPoint team for the warm welcome and the opportunity to see a different centre which was much appreciated!”

During February, DangerPoint North Wales celebrated welcoming their 40,000th visitor with Nercwys Primary School.

Since opening in October 2005, DangerPoint has strived to continually develop the Centre, updating scenario’s where possible and keeping the delivery relevant and up-todate. Over the years, the Centre has developed from the Core programme delivery (5-11yrs) and introduced a number of new prorgrammes including ‘The Point’ (11-18yrs), DangerPoint + (50yrs +) and Now I Can Crawl (parent tours). These programmes have been tailored to meet the specific needs and requirements of groups.

For further information about these programmes, or to book a visit, please contact one of the team on 01745 850414.

During recent months, DangerPoint has worked closely with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Arson Reduction Team, to deliver messages on the risk of deliberate fire setting to over 1000 pupils across North Wales. Working in partnership with the North Wales Policing Teams, schools were nominated from areas which have been identified as experiencing issues with deliberate fire setting.

During a visit to the Centre, pupils received the full DangerPoint experience; exploring the interactive zones with one of our fully trained guides. Included in the visit, additional focus was given to the risks of deliberate fire setting and specifically the consequences for people and the local community.

Kevin Jones, Arson Reduction Team Manager said, “These additional tours have been extremely beneficial to the Arson Reduction Team, giving us the opportunity to take more time to focus on current issues, and to further educate young people on the consequences of arson. Small scale arson incidents such as grass and heather fires are a constant drain on our resources, with fire fighters often tied up for a considerable length of time trying to bring these fires under control. Not only are fire crews unavailable to attend other incidents but there is widespread damage to the environment and wildlife, and on occasions these fires can escalate quickly to put homes at risk and endanger the lives of people and livestock”.

The sessions were positively received by all visitors and we hope to work together again in the future to continue to deliver these important messages.

Wrexham County Borough Council has always looked for ways to work in partnership with DangerPoint, to enable children and young people from our schools to visit the Centre. Our local schools have found that they gain so much from the experience and the reality of dangers and how to be safe are brought to life through interactive and informative sessions. 

During June, DangerPoint welcomed Scottish Power to the Centre to hold their annual Health and Safety conference.

Scottish Power has been a stakeholder of DangerPoint since opening and has been extremely supportive across the years.

During this event, employees from across different fields within Scottish Power had the opportunity to tour the Centre to experience firsthand what is delivered by our team of Rangers.

They were also able to witness the partnership working between DangerPoint, North Wales Fire & Rescue service, North Wales Police and Welsh Ambulance Services Trust during a road safety demonstration. The simulated collision highlighted the dangers of careless driving and the importance of concentrating at all times when behind the wheel.

Feedback from the employees was very positive with many commenting on the day’s events. “In my opinion it was the best Conference we have had, maybe it was down to the venue, but I also believe it was down to the content of the day. Speaking to all of the SPEN safety reps who attended, they were of the same opinion, in that it was an excellent conference especially the Emergency Services presentation, I never went over 40 miles per hour on the way home.”

DangerPoint would like to express its gratitude to Scottish Power, for the kind donation of £500 to the Centre.

For further details about the road safety presentation, or about donations to the Centre, please contact Victoria Burrows: Funding & Development Officer.

DangerPoint welcomed friends old and new to join us at our first Ladies Lunch fundraiser event on 15th July 2011. The event took place at St David’s Park Hotel, Ewloe and was a great success, raising in excess of £2500 for the charity.

During the event, 120 Ladies were greeted upon arrival with a drinks reception and had the opportunity to browse a number of stalls including Jamie at Home, Virgin Vie, Phoenix Cards, Miche Bags and Really Nice Chocolates.

Historically, visits to the the Dangerpoint Centre in North Wales have only been available for organised groups receiving guided tours. However, on a trial basis this summer, DangerPoint will be opening its doors to public visitors.

With the launch of this new initiative, members of the general public will now have the opportunity to come and visit DangerPoint and take a self guided tour with friends and family.

During September, DangerPoint launched a new exhibit at the Centre to educate visitors about the risks of flooding. Environment Agency Wales, Welsh Assembly Government and the North Wales Resilience Forum have worked with DangerPoint to develop this interactive exhibit for children to look at where flooding is likely to happen and what to do if it does. 

The new exhibit shows what happens to a village when water levels rise. As the river overtops, the roads are deluged, houses flood and the electricity goes off.

DangerPoint Rangers will teach the children about the dangers of contamination, debris in the water, deep and fast flowing water and hazards such as manhole covers swept away.It is hoped the pupils will take what they have learnt home to their families.

Environment Minister, Jane Davidson said: “We know that flooding in Wales is on the increase. The Assembly Government is committed to ensuring that communities in Wales are aware of the increased risk and understand the steps they can take to manage this risk. The DangerPoint project is a great example of the Welsh Assembly Government working with its partners and communities throughout Wales to increase awareness of this problem. The interactive nature of the project is particularly helpful, it brings the risks and dangers of flooding to life and helps young people to think about the practical steps we can take to minimise this risk."

During the launch, DangerPoint welcomed a host of visitors to the Centre, to learn the background of the new exhibit and witness for themselves the children’s reactions as pupils from Ysgol y Llys attended the event.

DangerPoint - the safety centre in North Wales - has been awarded the ‘Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge’.

Awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, the Quality Badge combines for the first time, learning and safety into one easily recognisable badge for all organisations providing learning outside the classroom experiences.

Centre Manager Julie Evans said: "Being awarded the Quality Badge is a real achievement for all the staff at DangerPoint as it shows that we offer young people the type of high quality learning experiences they really benefit from. We're thrilled to get official recognition for our efforts and we look forward to welcoming even more children and young people from across North Wales."

Over the past few months, DangerPoint has been busy developing a number of new displays in the centre which have all been welcomed with great reviews from both the children who have visited the centre and also the teachers.

We have added a bedroom into our home display with a wall mounted TV screen which shows a DVD of a bedroom fire and the dangers of leaving electrical items unattended. This display was funded by the Fire Safety department within the Welsh Assembly Government and has had a big impact on the groups. One pupil said - ‘It has really made me think about what I leave plugged in at home and I will make sure that I always turn my starighteners off now before I go out’.

In April, we welcomed Scottish Power to DangerPoint to provide a refresher session on electricity safety to our team of dedicated Rangers. Following the session, Scottish Power installed a life-like electricity substation to be used during our tour to educate children and young people about the dangers of getting too close or climbing into substations.

We have further developed our road safety education with funding from the North Wales Safety Camera Partnership to include a life-sized model of a child on a bicycle. The aim of this display is to illustrate to the pupils the importance of safety whilst out on their bicycles by demonstrating suitable equipment that is available. This new display was launched during National Bike Week (15th – 21st June) with additional information about cycle safety being delivered by the local Bike it officer.

We would like to express our thanks to the RNLI for funding our new beach display. We have been able to develop our beach scenario to include a wooden boat which the children and young people can sit in to watch a DVD showing the dangers of using inflatables during high winds. The RNLI also provided life jackets which the children have enjoyed putting on before getting in the boat. Our wall mural was also updated, where children can learn to spot the dangers that they could face whilst at the beach.

DangerPoint were proud to accept the Corporate Contribution to Fire Safety award from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service at their annual community ball.

The Community Awards was held on the 27th February 2009 at the St George’s Hotel, Llandudno. The ceremony was devised in order to recognise members of staff and the community who have worked hard to improve community safety in North Wales.

This is the second year that DangerPoint have received recognition at the awards ceremony for the work that we do to educated children and young people in safety awareness.

For the second year running, DangerPoint were proud to receive reaccreditation for the Power in Partnership award for excellence at the Business in the Communities Awards 2009. The reaccreditation was received in the category for groups of two or more companies that are having an impact on society through collaborative action. This was first won in 2007 and DangerPoint have received reaccreditation in 2008 and again this year.

Since opening in 2005, we have educated over 24,000 children, young people and other members from communities across North Wales whilst continuing to demonstrate the value of the partnership between BHP Billiton, North Wales Police and North Wales Fire & Rescue Service

In the last year, DangerPoint have held many events where these partnerships have taken an active part, including the launch of the new Youth Engagement Vehicle in partnership with North Wales Police; the FireSafe programme working in partnership with North Wales Fire & Rescue Service which is a one to one cognitive behavioural programme aimed at low to medium risk fire setters in the 12-17 year age range. We have also held a number of collaborative events with BHP Billiton through their field study centre, where children will have the opportunity to visit DangerPoint and also the dunes conservation area on Talacre Beach

Over the coming year we are sure that there will be a number of opportunities where we can continue to work together.