Stay Safe, Stay Away is a multi-award winning and increasingly popular campaign that the National Federation of Builders (NFB) promotes annually.
Each year, children are injured on building sites and the NFB works with schools and its construction company members to increase awareness of potential hazards and improve child safety.
Tony Leach, Health, Safety and Environment Director at NFB member Keepmoat, said: “Keepmoat is fully supportive of this scheme; the safety of staff, site visitors and those in the communities we work in is of paramount importance to us.
“As we work within existing communities, it’s inevitable that we will be working within close proximity to schools and family homes. It is vital that young people are educated about the risks and understand the importance of not playing on, or near construction sites, and this scheme helps to raise awareness with children in a fun and engaging way. We look forward to working with the NFB to roll this out!”
The campaign invites schoolchildren across England and Wales to take part in a competition by either designing a poster or writing a short story. Children in Key Stages 1 - 2 (6 – 11 year olds) will be busy designing posters which illustrate the dangers of playing on, or near, building sites. Key Stage 3 students (11 – 14 year olds) will be putting pen to paper to write a short story which is aimed at encouraging younger children to stay safe. The competition will coincide with Child Safety Week (1 - 7 June 2015) and winners will be announced on 18 June 2015.
National winners will each receive a £500 donation for their school and regional winning schools gain £100 in book tokens. Prizes are also awarded for individual children.
The competition is fronted by the Stay Safe, Stay Away mascot, Norman, and his website www.staystaystayaway.co.uk.
Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of CAPT said: “Child Safety Week helps children learn about real risks and how to stay safe from serious injury, while also having fun. So we are pleased to support the NFB’s Stay Safe, Stay Away campaign, which shares these aims. Building sites are not playgrounds and no child should start the summer holidays from a hospital bed.”
Stay Safe, Stay Away 2015 is sponsored by Building & Civil Engineering Benefit Schemes (B&CE) and the Yorkshire Builders Federation (YBF). Prizes for the Welsh competition are sponsored by Cardiff based construction firm Knox & Wells Limited. The NFB’s local associations also contribute funds to support the campaign.