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National
Federation of Builders 'STAY SAFE, STAY AWAY' Campaign
THE National Federation of
Builders multi-award winning and increasingly popular Stay Safe,
Stay Away poster and writing competitions have now closed. This
year's poster competition has seen another high standard set, where
we have seen new ideas and illustrations depicting the dangers of
playing on construction sites from some very talented young artists
from across England and Wales. With the competition now in its ninth
year an additional competition was launched to broaden the audience
of the campaign to young adults in key stage 3. The new writing
competition ran alongside the traditional poster competition. This
has proven to be a big success with hundreds of school children from
across England and Wales entering some very imaginative stories.
Both competitions aim to tackle the latest statistics from the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which show that during 2010 /
2011, 17 children were injured and one child died after being on or
around construction sites. The NFB views these figures as shocking
and aims to reduce them by working with members to educate children
about the dangers of building sites. The Stay Safe, Stay Away
competitions for schools was this year sponsored by Building & Civil
Engineering Benefit Schemes (B&CE), South West Builders' Federation,
Yorkshire Builders' Federation and NFB local associations Birmingham
and Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Also lending their support to
this worth while campaign was The Child Accident Prevention Trust
(CAPT), the Health and Safety Executive and Construction Minister
Mark Prisk, who have supported the campaign in previous years.
Last year (2011) the NFB launched a dedicated website to promote the
dangers posed by construction sites and to continually raise
awareness and educate young people. The
website is hosted by the NFB's
safety mascot Norman the friendly builder, offers hints and tips on
how to create the best possible posters and short stories as well as
educating children through safety advice. The closing date for
submitting posters and short stories was Friday, 8 June 2012. An
expert panel of judges will now pick a national winner for both
competitions and winning schools will receive a £500 donation. The
regional runner up schools will also receive book tokens to the
value of £200.
Julia Evans, Chief Executive of the NFB said:- "I am delighted
that our campaign goes from strength to strength every year. For
every child who is made aware of the dangers of building sites, it
is potentially a life saved. Our members work hard to ensure that
they operate responsibly and it is great to see thousands of schools
passing on the message to pupils."
Minister for Construction Mark Prisk added:- "Building sites
are dangerous places, not just for children. By educating them about
the risks involved and teaching them how to stay safe, we can
prevent serious accidents. I am pleased to see the NFB continuing
its important work on the 'Stay Safe, Stay Away' campaign."
Philip White, the Chief Inspector of Construction at the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE), said:- "They look exciting. They look
like the greatest of adventure playgrounds, so it's understandable
that some children are drawn to building sites. But they are not
playgrounds. Building sites can be very dangerous places even for
the people working there. For children and young people who
shouldn't be there and don't properly understand the risks, what
seems like an exciting adventure can all too easily end in tragedy
We want children to enjoy playing outside during the school
holidays, but it's vital they stay safe and stay away from
construction sites."
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."
Previous campaigns have indirectly led to the very successful
Considerate Constructors Scheme. This enables construction companies
to demonstrate their consideration in raising awareness of the risks
associated with construction sites, for the communities in which
they build. The Stay Safe, Stay Away campaign has also won multiple
awards for its work from the Public Relations Consultants
Association in 2010 and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
Commitment to Construction in West Yorkshire for commitment to
health and safety in 2012. If anyone you know entered, why not
let our newsroom know by emailing:-
news24@southportreporter.com. Also for further
information about this campaign, please visit its official website
at:-
staysafestayaway.co.uk.
Heart charity sends out SOS to
Merseyside children
OVER June the British Heart Foundation (BHF) are now inviting
children across Merseyside to grab their goggles, don their lab
coats and take part in a fun nationwide competition to design a
model heart as part of its Support Our Science (SOS) campaign. The
nation's heart charity is tasking schools and youth clubs across
Merseyside to design and make a model heart which demonstrates how
blood is pumped around the body. The winning model will be turned
into a kit by the BHF to help young people around the country learn
more about this vital organ. Launching this week, the competition is
a key part of the BHF's SOS month, which aims to highlight the
existing and potential value of BHF-funded research on UK heart
health. Debbie Allen, Programme Lead of the BHF's Children and
Young People's Team said:- "For some, the idea of science
might bring on cold sweats and distant memories of test tubes and
Bunsen burners. But science is all about exciting discoveries and
we're supporting leading scientists making important breakthroughs
in heart research. Without donations from the public we couldn't
fund vital research; that's why we're asking people across
Merseyside to Support Our Science. This national competition gives
young people the opportunity to work on an exciting science-based
project while learning about the heart, how it works and why we need
to look after it. We hope to see lots of schools sign up and show
their support for our science." The competition is
open to all children aged 11 to 18 and the models must be made from
normal everyday house hold materials. Young people have the whole
summer to collect materials and start building their hearts because
the closing date for entries is 30 November 2012. For more
information about the competition including details about how to
enter visit:-
yheart.net/buildaheart or
via
email. To find out more about the BHF's SOS campaign
visit:-
bhf.org.uk/science. |
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Want to be on
TV? R U Funny?
SKY 1 HD has announced on 7
June 2012 that John Bishop's Only Joking stand up comedy show, deals
unashamedly in jokes and nothing but jokes. Hosted by the much loved
John Bishop, the 10 x 30' series is a Lola Entertainment / Channel X
for Sky 1 HD. Filming will begin later in the summer on location and
in front of a studio audience.
John Bishop's show will unite Sky customers across the UK and
Ireland, as seasoned comedians, celebrities and members of the
public deliver a fast paced barrage of favourite jokes. John Bishop
will hold court in the studio as he is joined by a number of stellar
comedians, both new, established and old school. Meanwhile, the
cameras will travel the length and breadth of the country to hear
members of the public, and celebrities alike tell us their funniest
jokes.
Commissioned by Phil Edgar Jones for Sky 1 HD, John Bishop's Only
Joking, is produced by Lola Entertainment and Channel X. The
Executive Producers are John Bishop and Lisa Thomas for Lola
Entertainment, Jim Reid and Alan Marke for Channel X, and Antonia
Hurford-Jones for Sky 1 HD. The Series Producer is Jonno Richards
and Director is Paul Wheeler.
John Bishop, Host and Executive Producer for Lola Entertainment,
says:- "This is a great opportunity to make a show that allows
everyone to join in the joke. I'm really looking forward to working
with everyone involved."
Phil Edgar Jones, Head of Entertainment for Sky, says:- "If
there's one person who's guaranteed to put a smile on our faces,
it's John Bishop. We're thrilled to be working with him, and the
team at Lola Entertainment and Channel X on this exciting new show
which will, almost literally, deliver a laugh a minute."
Jim Reid, Director of Programmes, Channel X, says:- "This is
the dream commission; fill 30 minutes of TV with top quality jokes
and have John Bishop lead out the team to do so."
But you can get involved!!! They are now looking for funny joke
tellers from every walk of life to take part in a brand new show. If
you think you can do it then email:-
jokes@channelx.co.uk with your full contact
information and a bit about your self, and the Subject marked:-
"John Bishop Needs Funny People -- ref. Southport Reporter."
University of Central Lancashire
Vice-Chancellor to retire by summer 2013
THE Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Dr Malcolm McVicar, has
announced his retirement next summer (2013), after more than 14
years in the position.
Dr McVicar took up the role of Vice-Chancellor of UCLan on 1 October
1998 and has steered the institution through 1 of the most exciting
and challenging periods that the higher education sector has ever
seen.
Under his leadership, UCLan has gone from strength-to-strength
through a focus on a superlative student experience, a strong
international dimension and the development of areas of
world-leading research.
The Vice-Chancellor has also been instrumental in the opening of a
new UCLan campus in Burnley and overseeing a redevelopment programme
at its Preston campus which has been hugely popular with students.
The Vice-Chancellor has also
laid the foundations for UCLan to open the first UK university
campuses in Cyprus and Thailand during the next 2 years.
All these developments have contributed to the University's strong
market position where it now receives 5 applications for every place
available.
And in the political arena, Dr McVicar has also been a powerful
voice for the sector during the recent debates around the Coalition
Government's higher education reforms.
Dr McVicar said:- "I recently informed colleagues that the
Board was discussing the structures needed to take the University
forward over the next 10 years. 10 years is a significant planning
horizon and this is an appropriate time for me to announce that I
will retire from the post of Vice-Chancellor no later than 30 June
2013. It has been a privilege to be Vice-Chancellor of such an
excellent University since 1998 and UCLan is well set for the
challenging future. UCLan is a very different University in 2012
than it was in 1998 and we can all be proud of what we have achieved
together."
Brian Harris, Chairman of the University Board of Governors, paid
tribute to Malcolm's unstinting commitment to the development and
transformation of the University and to his vision and leadership
over the last 14 years.
"During his period as Vice-Chancellor the University has been
transformed from a regional player into a major University, not just
in the UK but also abroad. As a consequence UCLan is now poised to
enter an exciting new era of international development. Governors
and staff truly appreciate the major contribution that Malcolm has
made to the University." said Brian Harris.
The procedure for appointing the new Vice-Chancellor will be
announced by the University Board in due course.
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