23 April 2008

Coaching for a Safer Community Project

Each year thousands of children, young people and adults are injured or killed through fires or road traffic collisions throughout the County of Sussex. In an attempt to drive down these figures and keep communities safer, East & West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service work in partnership with Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, trying to instil in young people and adults alike, fire safety messages through the medium of football.

The Coaching for a Safer Community project is absolutely unique and aims to teach young people how to lead a safer life, assess danger more effectively and be better equipped to deal with life itself through a range of exciting football activities. Over 18,000 people across the County of Sussex have been educated in important road and fire safety messages through the project so far and many young people and adults alike have benefited in learning vital fire safety advice through the medium of football.

The official launch of the Coaching for a Safer Community project was held at East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Training Centre on 15th April 2008. The launch provided an opportunity for qualified emergency services coaches to demonstrate what the project involves as well as a wide range of achievements to-date through a variety of presentations and practical demonstrations. The launch also provided an official occasion in which to thank the sponsors and partners of the project for their continuing support. External funding has been a significant part of the success of the Coaching for A Safer Community project. Sussex County Football Association and the Football Foundation have demonstrated their commitment by part-funding the project for the next 5 years.

The Coaching for a Safer Community project works in partnership with Brighton & Hove Albion and Sussex County Football Association and they have collectively devised and delivered two Football Association Level 1 Emergency Services Coaching Courses for Fire, Police and Ambulance personnel in Sussex. The objective is to train a broad range of emergency service staff to assist with the project in their local communities.