Milton Keynes-based Safety Centre Charity is launching its Violence Against Women & Girls Education Programme for over 20,000 primary and secondary school students to celebrate its 30th birthday year.
The Safety Centre charity based in MK is launching a pioneering Violence Against Women & Girls Education programme to celebrate its 30th year of delivering lifesaving safety education. The safety education charity, which specialises in immersive interactive safety education, will deliver the pilot programme to over 20,000 11-13 year olds across the city over the next 3 years and is seeking support from local and national funders to expand the programme across the UK, educating more young people on this vital subject.
The programme will ensure that local children, young people, their parents and teachers recognise the importance of equity, respect and personal safety. Helping to create a culture of positive behaviours amongst young people, enabling students to discuss what’s acceptable, and how to react if they see something they know isn’t right across Milton Keynes.
The Safety Centre has received £98,170 from the Milton Keynes Community Foundation to pilot this project in Milton Keynes. The charity is seeking additional support from regional and national funders to deliver the programme into schools across the country.
Maya Joseph-Hussain CEO of the Safety Centre said, "We’re excited to announce the launch of our new Violence Against Women & Girls safety education programme for primary and secondary school students in our hometown of Milton Keynes. This education programme will create an empowered community to have courageous conversations, increasing their understanding of the individual impact of their actions, which can make a big difference in their communities and wider society and support women and girls for years to come. As a White Ribbon accredited organisation the Safety Centre is committed to supporting and empowering young people across MK and the country to understand the risks around Violence Against Women & Girls, for victims and perpetrators.
"We’d like to thank Milton Keynes Community Foundation for their support funding this project with a three-year strategic grant, enabling us to empower local children. We hope the charity’s investment in our safety education work in our hometown will inspire other funders to support us educating children across the country. We are launching a fundraising appeal to ensure we are here for children and young people today and in the future. Without ongoing support children and young people will miss out on education that could save their lives."
Samantha Snelus, Philanthropy Manager at MK Community Foundation said: "The Community Foundation are proud to have been able to support such an impactful project. The Safety Centre’s 'Violence against Women and Girls Education Programme' will address some of the key issues highlighted in our 2023 Vital Signs Report. The project has the potential to not only transform lives, but more importantly save the lives of many women and girls in Milton Keynes and beyond. We hope that the three-year funding gives the team at the Safety Centre everything they need to launch the programme successfully."
The local charity is also celebrating 30 years of lifesaving learning, delivering safety education to children, young people and adults.
The charity started in January 1994 with its interactive safety education centre, the first in the world, Hazard Alley which still operates today.
The charity works to create safe flourishing communities for the future, teaching children, young people and adults safety skills for everyday life and emergency situations.
To support the charity visit safetycentre.co.uk/donate or speak to the team on 01908 263009.
