All posts tagged: Gloucester Bangladeshi Women’s Group

A spooktastic time at SkillZONE Halloween event

A spooktastic time at SkillZONE Halloween event

31/10/2013 Skillzoneadmin No comments

Witches, devils, spiders and baby pumpkins were just some of the costumed youngsters who turned up for SkillZONE’s Halloween Open Days on October 30th and 31st.

SkillZONE, which opened just over a year ago, is an educational centre that teaches children, young people and the greater community to recognise dangerous situations in everyday life so they can stay safe.

Around 120 people came to the Halloween open days on Wednesday and Thursday and took part in short tours of the centre’s life size village.

Local families were able to learn more about fire safety at Halloween with Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue crews running fire truck demonstrations over the two day event.

SkillZONE Manager Donna Potts says: “It’s our first time running a Halloween event and we’ve been pleased with the feedback we had from visitors. The kids Halloween outfits have been wonderful and it’s been lovely to see them enjoying SkillZONE and taking in the important safety messages we teach on our tours.”

Children had the chance to play Halloween games, get their face painted, watch fire truck demonstrations and listen to spooky stories.

Oliver Bond, 5, of Quedgeley, (pictured left) won a prize for his skeleton pirate outfit.  He says: “I was happy to win. I liked putting my hand in the spaghetti game the best and the scary story.”

Local volunteers helped run the open days for SkillZONE and local businesses; Fosterplus, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury, Morrisons and the Over Farm Market donated treats, pumpkins and prizes.

“A special thanks also to young Jack and Chloe Hughes who helped with putting up the Halloween decorations.”

 

Pictures : Main image shows Halloween kids, from left: Sophie Lewis, 9, Jack Gardner, 6, Sophie Orton, 7, Kate Gardner, 9, and Spencer Lewis, 6. On right is Kate Gardner, 9, with her prize winning pumpkin.

 

 

 

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Safety first for community groups

Safety first for community groups

13/05/2013 Skillzoneadmin No comments

Black and minority ethnic communities from Gloucestershire were invited to the county’s SkillZONE centre to mark Global Road Safety Week.

The state-of-the-art centre in Tuffley Lane, Gloucester, is a unique village which gives people of all ages the chance to visit 16 zones, each designed to teach them how to recognise a range of dangerous situations, including on the road, in the water or at home.

The sessions were held from 11am to 2pm on Wednesday 8th May and Saturday 11th May, and focused particularly on road safety issues.

Twelve members of the Gloucester Bangladeshi Women’s Group were given a tour of the centre on Wednesday, with interpreters on hand to help explain the scenarios. A number of other families from the county’s Asian community visited on Saturday.

Road safety team leader Andre Bovington said: “This has been a great opportunity to open up SkillZONE to groups who may not otherwise have seen what the centre has to offer. It is vital for us at the Road Safety Partnership to reach out to all community groups in the county, giving everyone essential information and advice about reducing the risk of injury when using Gloucestershire’s roads. 

“Our messages during this week have been about pedestrian safety and, although many of us think walking is a simple and easy way to get about, sadly there are still too many people, most of whom are adults, being hit by motorists in built-up areas.

“Everyone who came took something away with them and many of the visitors told us how much they appreciated being reminded of such important safety advice.”

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