ALMOST 600 children from primary schools across West Devon will be taking part in an adventure they?ll never forget this month. The 10 and 11-year-olds will be learning vital new skills that could one day help to keep themselves safe and even save the lives of others. West Devon Junior Life Skills takes place at Okehampton Army Training Camp where the children will be faced with nine different simulated scenarios each of which they may encounter in real life. With the help of trained experts at each scenario, they will be taught how to cope. Junior Life Skills ? now in its 11th year ? helps the youngsters to recognise danger and deal with emergencies ?the scenes will be set by Devon and Cornwall Police; Devon County Council Road Safety Team; Devon Youth Association; Devon Fire and Rescue Service; Duchy College; Ministry of Defence; School Nurses; Health Visitors; British Red Cross; RNLI; and West Devon?s Environmental Health Department. It is an action-packed day for them and each child receives a healthy snack ? an apple provided by Plymouth and and South West Co-operative Society. Organised by West Devon Borough Council, the event is staged from Thursday September 8 to Friday September 16. West Devon mayor Cllr Jayne Hill said: ?Junior Life Skills is a challenge and great fun which is a perfect combination for children to learn some important messages. ?It?s important to teach children how to avoid becoming victims, how to look after themselves and to learn how to be good citizens. They also have a more clear understanding of the role of the police and emergency services.? The event could not take place without the generous donations and support from Okehampton United Educational Foundation; Manor House Hotel, Okehampton; National Grid Transco; Superwinch Ltd.; Plymouth and South West Co-operative Society; West Devon Community Safety Partnership; Okehampton Town Council; Tavistock Town Council; South Hams and West Devon Primary Care Trust; Mid Devon Primary Care Trust; James McNaughton Paper Merchants Ltd and West Devon Borough Council.
