A group of volunteers who have taken part in the Kerbcraft road safety training programme in South Ayrshire schools have been presented with certificates in acknowledgement of the valuable service they have provided.

Councillor Margaret Toner, Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Economic and Tourism Development Committee, congratulated the volunteers and presented the certificates to them at County Buildings, Ayr.

The Kerbcraft scheme, initiated by the Scottish Government and which includes practical road safety training for young pupils has been operating within 12 local authorities in Scotland, and  South Ayrshire currently has 11 schools participating in it.

Primary schools in South Ayrshire taking part are: Annbank, Ballantrae, Barr,  Barrhill,  Crosshill, Kincaidston, Gardenrose, Girvan, St Ann’s, Sacred Heart and Tarbolton.

Four primary schools who have recently completed the schedule of activity and who were represented at the presentation were: Kincaidston, Gardenrose, Girvan and Tarbolton.

More than 20 volunteers who have been involved in the training accompanied the respective Head Teachers of each school.

Annbank, Ballantrae, Barr, Barrhill,  St Ann's and Crosshill primary schools were presented with their certificates earlier this year.

Cathy Cochrane, Kerbcraft Scheme Co-ordinator in South Ayrshire explained: “The key aims are to teach children about road safety by means of practical training rather than lessons in the classroom.

“We arrange for training to be undertaken by parent volunteers who are recruited and who undergo appropriate training.  An important benefit of the scheme is that the children obtain practical training at the roadside.

“Children who have undergone the programme will have a different, hopefully better, understanding of road safety than children who have not.  Children are encouraged to be active participants by using a problem solving approach.”

Cathy added: “Training focuses on a set of clearly defined pedestrian skills. None of these would be easy to teach without practical training.

Since the training is conducted entirely with volunteers, the programme has almost no implications for teacher’s workload, although a number of Head Teachers have encouraged the use of their staff.

Councillor Margaret Toner, Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Economic and Tourism Development Committee, pictured with Kerbcraft volunteers, and Kerbcraft Scheme Co-ordinator in South Ayrshire, Cathy  Cochrane after presenting certificates to the volunteers.

Councillor Margaret Toner, Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Economic and Tourism Development Committee, pictured with Kerbcraft Scheme Co-ordinator in South Ayrshire, Cathy  Cochrane at the presentation.

June 2006