Barnstaple Pupils Use Their Artistic Skills to Celebrate Safety

Pupils at Newport Community School Primary Academy in Barnstaple earned top prizes in a poster competition organised by contractor Leadbitter Group.

Leadbitter is currently working on a site down the road from the school, having been awarded the contract to design and build 36 new affordable homes on behalf of leading housing and care provider Sanctuary Group, which also sponsored the school competition.

As part of its commitment to construction site health and safety, the company’s Community Engagement Team presented its interactive Safe Play At All Times (SPLAAT) presentation to all 430 pupils at the school. Backed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, the presentation is designed to raise awareness of safety issues amongst children of all ages and help them understand the potential dangers of playing on construction sites.

Jackie Kelly, Leadbitter’s Community Engagement Coordinator for the West and Wales Housing division, said: “Due to their natural curiosity, children are easily tempted to enter construction sites just to see ‘what’s behind the wall’. Our goal with the SPLAAT presentation is to take away the mystery by making children aware of the potential dangers and encouraging them to make safe choices.”

The pupils were challenged to create their own posters to convey these important messages. The sixty posters submitted were judged by representatives from Leadbitter and Sanctuary, who selected four worthy winners.

The winners each received a new set of art supplies, a goody bag from Leadbitter and their own Leadbitter hard hat and high visibility vest and will have their posters displayed on the hoardings surrounding the construction site.

Andy Cotton, Head Teacher, said: “The children have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in this competition following a valuable assembly on the dangers posed by building sites. The SPLAAT theme gave all ages the opportunity to engage in this important personal safety initiative.”

Mike Santon, Sanctuary’s Head of Development for the South West, said: “Sanctuary is committed to working with local communities, especially schools, so that children can become more involved in these interesting projects taking place in their neighbourhoods.

“This work also gives young people a real opportunity to learn about how modern-day homes are built.”