Teenagers go radio gaga to stay Safe4Summer

Community clean ups are one of the many activities young people will be taking part in this summer

Teenagers from the borough are set to become radio stars as they hit the airwaves with a vital summer safety message for teenagers.

The unique fire safety message will be aired on Key 103 for four weeks starting this week after the pupils worked with local fire and community safety officers to produce the ad.

The students got creative as part of Safe4Summer, a Greater Manchester wide campaign to keep young people safe and drive down anti-social behaviour during the long summer break.

The campaign sees local authorities, fire services and the police work together in hotspot areas to make sure there are exciting activities on offer for young people, while at the same time reassuring local residents who are concerned about anti social behaviour with increased enforcement activity.

A huge range of activities are planned for young people across the borough. In Rochdale, activities planned include a litter pick, planting sessions and a dance and rap workshop on the Newbold Estate. The fire service will lay on a demonstration, also on the estate, showing a dummy being cut out of a car to highlight the dangers of wreckless driving.

In Castleton, young people will be sprucing up their community in a 12-day clean up operation including a grafitti removal and litter picking.

Young people in Kirkholt will benefit from mini pool and table football tournaments, while neighbourhood officers in Deeplish will engage with young people around the mosques as part of Operation Ramadhan.

The Council’s Youth Service will be hosting their usual packed programme of activities including summer events held in Springhill and Harehill Park, with team games, music, dancing, climbing walls and bouncy castles.

The mobile ‘Where it’s at’ bus will also be in key locations around Rochdale, including Failinge, Milnrow and Deeplish, Smallbridge and Firgrove. Young people can get on board and take part in different activities and workshops.

In Heywood, Queen’s Park will host a series of youth activities, including dancing and games, while the ‘Where it’s at’ bus will continue to pitch up at Darnhill shops on Thursday nights throughout the summer.

Limefield Park will be the focus of many of the youth activities in Middleton and the youth bus will be pitching up at various locations throughout the summer, including Langley, Hollin and the King George playing fields.

Public Protection officers will also be stepping up test purchase exercises in all townships throughout July and August to ensure that shops are not selling alcohol to children.

And community safety advisors from the fire service will be hopping aboard the NHS health bus to provide vital health and safety advice. The health bus will be parked in the Rochdale Morrisons car park every Wednesday between now and August 29.

Councillor Sultan Ali, Cabinet Member for Strengthening Communities at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We saw anti-social behaviour drop by ten per cent in the 12 months to April this year compared to the year before and this is due in no small part to all the agencies who work together to provide activities and campaigns such as Safe4Summer.”

“The majority of young people in this borough are a credit to us, but a small minority may be at risk of getting involved in anti social behaviour if they have a long summer break with little to do.

"By combining a packed summer activity programme with increased enforcement, we know that both young people and communities will enjoy a safe and peaceful summer this year.”

Chief Inspector Nadeem Mir, of GMP’s Rochdale Division, said: “This summer we have put on lots of different activities for our young people to take part in. It is a great opportunity for them to link in with their local neighbourhood policing teams, as well as the fire service and the youth service.

“We are also listening to residents’ concerns about anti-social behaviour and will increase our patrols at key times to keep our communities safe. We know that anti-social behaviour affects people’s of quality of life and it will not be tolerated.”