Latest News In the Press News archive	News Archive   SENTIMENT AND SAFETY ON ST VALENTINES DAY   With Valentines Day just round the corner many people’s thoughts turn to love and finding the perfect match on Valentines Day sounds like a dream come true.  But dating in these modern times can prove to be a minefield to negotiate.   “Does my bum look big in this?” “What if I fall in these heels?” “What if she stands me up?” … These are just some of the traditional Valentines Day worries that men and woman have before going on a date.  But one concern that is often overlooked in the all the excitement is personal safety.   This February the 14th, Aberdeen Safer Community Trust is encouraging the locals of Aberdeen to enjoy their day but to stay safe by following their top tips.    Choose to meet your date at a busy venue that is likely to be full of people so you are not alone with your date until you are absolutely comfortable with them.  Or ask friends to sit at a nearby table or to call you at a predetermined time to check on your safety. Tell a friend where you are going, who you are with, how you are getting home and what time you intend to go home.  Having someone keep an eye out for you when meeting someone new is common sense. Stay alert and don’t consume too much alcohol. When we drink we can become over confident and perhaps lose our self control.  It’s important to have fun but try to keep a clear head! Don’t get in a car with someone on a first date.  And don’t accept a lift home or go back to your date’s house with them.  Think of your personal safety and always have a pre-planned way home. Meeting people online is increasingly popular.  But remember that on a blind date, you don’t know anything about your date so be cautious until you know your date much better.  Don’t give out personal details on a first date and be sure the site you meet through has explicit privacy policies. And finally, TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS – if a person makes you feel uneasy then make an excuse, leave safely, don’t’ give your personal details and don’t arrange a second date! Emma Bellu, chief executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust said:   We know how careful people are when preparing for a date, whether it’s their appearance, their hair, their shoes or their perfume or aftershave.  We just hope that our advice goes some way to reminding everyone that what they should take most care of is themselves.    She added:  “Remember, know your limits, stay safe, enjoy your evening and remember to always, always wear shoes you can run in!”  More safety advice and information can be found on the Trust’s website at http://www.absafe.org.uk/ or by phoning their office on 01224 646461.  I'm Looking Out For My Neighbour Campaign The Evening Express campaign has highlighted how important it is to look out for your neighbours.  And the recent cold snap has rekindled community spirit in Aberdonians with many people getting together to work as a community and look after their more vulnerable neighbours.    Among these unsung heroes are the members of Aberdeen’s neighbourhood watches who work tirelessly for their community throughout the entire year to help make their towns better and safer.  Neighbourhood Watch is the largest voluntary movement in the UK with approximately 155,000 schemes covering up to six million households.  It began in 1982 with small groups of volunteer residents looking out for signs of crime in their own neighbourhoods, and sharing that information with each other and local police.   Today, Aberdeen has 340 watches across the city, all managed by local charity Aberdeen Safer Community Trust.  The Trust provides vital support, information and advice to watches and acts as a link between the watches and Grampian police.  However, being a part of a modern neighbourhood watch is about more than helping to detect crime, it’s about being a good neighbour.  By paying that little bit of attention to your community you’re more likely to notice when something unusual is happening on your street, when something just doesn’t look right or perhaps when a neighbour may be in need of assistance.  In fact, the simplest act can make the biggest difference, like looking after a neighbours house if they are on holiday or in hospital.  Chief Executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust, Emma Bellu says: “Having good neighbours is invaluable and being a good neighbour brings many benefits.  It takes very little effort to start saying the occasional hello, and start creating those networks of friends, and people you can trust, who look out for one another.  Neighbourhood Watch is a great way to open up communication with your neighbours and also helps to get advice and information on staying safe and secure, like being careful about who you accept help from making sure it’s someone you know. She continued: “As well as helping to increase home security, Neighbourhood Watch helps create closer communities.  All areas can benefit from having a Neighbourhood Watch, it doesn’t even need to be publicised – some places run Silent Schemes.  Neighbourhood Watch is all about Neighbourliness, it’s about talking to those that share your community, looking out for one another in a non intrusive way and supporting those that need that little extra help.” If you’d like to find out how you can look out for your neighbour by joining your local neighbourhood watch or starting your own watch scheme, contact Aberdeen Safer Community Trust on 01224 646461 or download information from their website at www.absafe.org.uk.   I'm Looking Out For My Neighbour Campaign Launch Local charity Aberdeen Safer Community Trust is one of the key supporters of the Evening Express’s campaign.  The Trust works across the city providing advice and information on all aspects of safety, including community safety, to people from all walks of life.   Its chief executive Emma Bellu says that although most callers may well be genuine with a genuine offer of help, it is always best to be vigilant and not to let anyone you don’t know into your home.   She said “This is why old fashioned community spirit and looking out for each other is so important.  That’s why we support the Evening Express campaign, as neighbourliness is such an essential part of community safety.”   Aberdeen Safer Community Trust’s top tips are:    Do get to know your neighbours – so you’ll know who they are and are and have friends to call on for help if you need to.  Don’t answer the door if you don’t know who the caller is - you don’t have to answer. Do use a chain - If you do answer your door, use the door chain or spy hole first to identify the caller.  Do ask salespeople for identification - and check it before letting them in.  Use the phone number in the phone book, not on the callers identity card Do be sceptical.  If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.  Don’t be rushed – you don’t have to make a decision about a callers authenticity until you’re ready.  Don’t give out personal or financial details to anyone you don’t know.  If you ask anyone to leave your house, they must do so, by law.  Emma added “Finally, our most important piece of advice is the phrase, ‘If in doubt, keep them out’.” More information and advice is available by contacting Aberdeen Safer Community Trust on 01224 646461 or www.absafe.org.uk.  Brrrrring, bring us your mobile phones!   They say one person’s rubbish is another person’s treasure - this is certainly true for Aberdeen Safer Community Trust.  The Trust is in the midst of their Recycling Appeal aimed at turning old mobile phones and used printer cartridges into much needed funds for the organisation.  The Trust launched the Brrrrrriing, bring appeal in December with a specially designed eco friendly e-Christmas card donated by local company Creative Core, who also promoted the campaign to its many clients. Since then the Trust has already raised in excess of £300 from donations of old phones.  Now they are appealing to the many people who received a fancy new mobile for Christmas to donate their old handset for recycling.  Each handset donated could be worth around £5 or more to the ‘Brrrrriing’ appeal to raise vital funds for the charity.  Emma Bellu, chief executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust said: “Fundraisers traditionally call for donations of money, but instead, we want items usually placed in the bin.  It is estimated that there are around 90 million old handsets hiding in drawers and cupboards in the UK alone.  We are appealing to anyone who received a new mobile for Christmas to put their old handset to good use by donating it to our recycling appeal.” She continued: “When mobiles and cartridges are binned they end up in landfill sites where they can cause pollution – as they slowly break down, chemicals can leak into the surrounding soil.  By recycling them, you can protect the environment and protect Aberdeen too. “You could even consider getting your employer involved – recycling is a great way for companies to go green and support a very worthy cause!  All the money raised will be directly dedicated to the Trust’s projects and services to advance safety, stop accidents and save life.” The appeal also includes recycling used inkjet and toner cartridges.  To participate in this eco-friendly fundraiser, simply drop off your unwanted phones/cartridges at the Aberdeen Safer Community Trust office in the Gallowgate or contact the Trust to arrange a collection by phoning 01224 646461 or visiting the website. Aberdeen Safer Community Trust's Fireworks & Bonfires: Top 10 Safety Tips   Bonfire Night is a fun and exciting time for everyone but it takes only a few minutes for a terrible accident occur. Such tragic accidents can ruin lives forever.   Over 1,000 people each year are injured through the use of fireworks around Bonfire Night, with some victims receiving serious and long-lasting burns. Half of those injuries are sustained by children though family or private parties.   Aberdeen Safer Community Trust want everyone to have fun this Bonfire Night without getting hurt and have put together a Fireworks & Bonfire Night factsheet – Avoiding An Accident which you can download by clicking on the Image.  Restaurant Cooks Up Tasty Profits for Local Charity A fundraising event by Handmade Burger Co. in Aberdeen has raised over £100 for a local charity.  Customers had been given the chance to donate their tips to three charities nominated by staff at the restaurant. One of these charities was Aberdeen Safer Community Trust; a charity dedicated to preventing crime and accidental injury and death. Aberdeen Safer Community Trust believes education is key to developing a safer community. The Trust runs many projects and services including Grampian Safe Team, Older and Wiser and Risk Ready. It is the Trust’s intention that these events help achieve its goal of a safer Aberdeen. Emma Bellu, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust said: "We are very pleased here at the Trust with the efforts of the staff and customers at Handmade Burger Company in their recent fundraising event. It was very kind of the restaurant to choose our organization in particular as one of its nominated charities. The event has helped raise awareness of our activities, and this generous donation will contribute to a safer community in Aberdeen."  Bake Sale Raises Dough for Charity    A bake sale organised by oil workers wives in Aberdeen has raised over £200 for a local charity.  A wide variety of cakes and biscuits went on sale to the staff at 5 of Schlumberger’s locations across the city. The sale, organised by the Schlumberger Spouses Association was held in support of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust, a charity dedicated to preventing crime and accidental injury and death. In 2008 there were 37 road deaths in Grampian alone and in Scotland, approximately 1 in 7 emergency hospital admissions of children is as a consequence of unintentional injuries.  Aberdeen Safer Community Trust believes education can help reduce these numbers and its projects and services, including Grampian Safe Team, Older and Wiser and Risk Ready are designed to tackle accident prevention, public safety, crime prevention, reduced fear of crime and security. Chairperson of Schlumberger Spouses Association, Emilie Wain commented: ‘We are very aware of the importance of safety in the energy industry and working with Aberdeen Safer Community Trust helps us to reinforce the importance of safety in day to day life.  It’s all too easy to take risks when you’re in the safety of your own home or on the roads but this is when tragedy can occur as we see all too often in the news.’ She continued ‘We were delighted to back the Trust’s fundraising campaign to build Risk Ready, a purpose built safety centre in Aberdeen.’ Bogus Callers shown the Door by Aberdeen Safer Community Trust Older and Wiser, the annual show run by Aberdeen Safer Community Trust for the 50+ festival, is going out on the road this month. On 8th November, Older and Wiser will take place at Elphinstone Hall, Old Aberdeen, aimed at residents over the age of 50 from the Tillydrone, Seaton, King Street and Old Aberdeen areas of the city.    The free event provides advice and information on everyday situations where older people can be put at risk.  It uses entertainment and interactive activities to demonstrate simple techniques to deal with the risks portrayed.    As part of the day’s event, local educational theatre company, Livewire Productions, will stage a play showing how to beat doorstep cheats.    The drama aims to show senior citizens the range of excuses used by bogus callers, con men and persistent salesmen and will also demonstrate simple but effective techniques to remove and avoid them.    Commenting on Older and Wisers’ activities, Emma Bellu, Chief Executive of the Trust said: “We are more than pleased to be hosting Older and Wiser again, which is now in its sixth year.  Anybody can be susceptible to bogus callers and older people in particular often live in fear of crime.  Older and Wiser sets out to tackle these issues by providing practical and easy to implement advice wrapped up in a fun and entertaining day out.”    She added: “If we can prevent this type of despicable crime occurring while getting the message across that it does not happen very often, it will go a long way to making our senior citizens feel safer in their homes.”  This year’s roadshow event will take place at Elphinstone Hall on the 8th November with doors opening at 12 o’ clock and the main event beginning at 12.30pm.  Teas and coffees are provided as well as a goody bag containing useful security items.  Bogus callers shown the door by Aberdeen Safer Community Trust   Although older people are less likely to be victims of crime, there is one type of crime that senior citizens often fear – bogus callers.    Every year, 3 million people in the UK, of all ages, fall victim to bogus callers or scams.  Local charity, Aberdeen Safer Community Trust aims to tackle this type of crime and help our senior citizens feel safe and secure in their homes by providing advice and information on how to spot scams and how to deal with them.    Bogus callers come in all shapes and sizes, male and female, young and old.  From persistent salesmen to con men pretending to represent an official organisation such as a utility company and rogue traders offering to fix something, these people want to trick you into letting them into your home or into parting with money.    The Trust says that although most callers may be genuine, it is always best to be vigilant and to follow some simple steps to avoid becoming a victim.   Aberdeen Safer Community Trust’s top tips are:   Do get to know your neighbours – so you’ll know who they are and are and have friends to call on for help if you need to.  Don’t answer the door if you don’t know who the caller is - you don’t have to answer. Do use a chain - If you do answer your door, use the door chain or spy hole first to identify the caller.  Do ask salespeople for identification - and check it before letting them in.  Use the phone number in the phone book, not on the callers identity card Do be sceptical.  If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.  Don’t be rushed – you don’t have to make a decision about a callers authenticity until you’re ready.  Don’t give out personal or financial details to anyone you don’t know.  If you ask anyone to leave your house, they must do so, by law.  Chief Executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust, Emma Bellu said “Generally, our advice is not to enter into a contract or negotiation with a trader who simply appears at your door and with whom you have not initiated contact.    She continued “We would always recommend that you get at least three quotes from reputable local companies.  You could use Aberdeen Care and Repair’s ‘Trusted Traders’ list which can be found on their website.  All traders on this list must adhere to a code of conduct and Aberdeen Care and Repair assess any feedback they receive about each trader.  You can also seek advice from Aberdeen Safer Community Trust and Consumer Direct.”  She added “Finally, our most important piece of advice is the phrase, ‘If in doubt, keep them out’.”  Scams can also come via the post or by phone and email, often with offers attached, such as a holiday, prize draw or lottery, to persuade you to give out personal details or to part with money.  According to Aberdeen Safer Community Trust, the advice here is just as simple - Bin it, delete it or hang up.       More information and advice is available by contacting Aberdeen Safer Community Trust on 01224 646461.  Alternatively you can contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/  MINISTER BACKS KIDS SAFETY EVENT Approximately 2,000 young people of primary seven level will quick march down to Gordon Barracks in Aberdeen this month for what promises to be a life-changing experience in staying safe on the roads, on school buses, when out with friends, in the home or online.  In Scotland, approximately 1 in 7 emergency hospital admissions of children is as a consequence of unintentional injuries and Grampian Safe Team, the partnership behind the event, is keen to cut these numbers by making pupils more safety aware in an interactive and educational way.    The schoolchildren will take part in simulated real life activities designed to help them learn about protecting themselves from situations which could result in them coming to serious harm.  The emergency services and organisations like the Red Cross, construction group Galliford Try, oil firm Schlumberger and bus company Stagecoach will all play a part in making the day a memorable learning experience, delivering the ‘sets’ using their own experience and expertise.  Specially adapted portakabins will be set up, each housing a different scenario with potential hazards which the children can explore and interact with.  This year there will be 9 sets including a dangerous flat containing fire hazards, a building site, an internet chat room, a railway line, a road and a school bus.  The schoolchildren will take part in activities such as administering first aid and CPR, road accident investigation and escaping from a fire.    The Galliford Try set will inform the young people of potential dangers associated with a building site and why they should not be seen as play areas.  Grampian Fire and Rescue will use their flat to teach the schoolchildren how to plan an escape route and learn how they can make their homes safer by eliminating fire hazards.  Grampian Police are hosting a third of the interactive sets this year, one is a road safety set, another will be raising awareness of stranger danger and the third set will focus on staying safe online and the dangers of internet chatrooms.  To give the pupils a taste of what could happen, the participants are left alone in the room with a computer.  During that time someone, claiming to be a 12-year-old boy, will attempt to start a conversation with the youngsters.  Only after they’ve reacted do they learn that they are, in fact, talking to a grown man posing as a child. Karen Simpson of Grampian Police, co-ordinators of this year’s event said: "These hands-on workshops give the children a fun day out where they learn vital skills that they will never forget, to help them to grow up safer, wiser and become responsible citizens "  Supporting the scheme, Gordon MSP, Alex Salmond, added: "There is nothing more important than making sure that our kids are safe, and this scheme does just that, by engaging children with fun to highlight serious safety issues.  Grampian Safe Team has an extremely positive impact on the local community in the North East – raising awareness of risk and promoting safe practice. It is an endeavour worthy of great praise and the substantial efforts of the organisers should not be overlooked. That so many diverse organisations – from Grampian Police to Stagecoach – have come together to make sure kids in the North East are safe on the streets is testament to the importance of the cause at hand." Emma Bellu, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust commented: “The purpose of these workshops and demonstrations is not to alarm or dictate what youngsters should and shouldn’t do.  Instead, it’s about engaging them in a fun way and using experiential learning to ensure they will always remember the safety lessons learnt.   “For instance, the British Transport Police use a train simulator to great effect, demonstrating the potentially fatal consequences of playing on railway lines. “We all want to keep our youngsters safe and this way, the children can see the damage that could be done when we aren’t aware of the risks and make bad choices.” Children aged between 11 and 16 are more likely to be hurt in road accidents than any other age group and children of all ages are more likely to die in accidents than from diseases such as leukemia or meningitis. Trust asks parents to pledge time for Child Safety Week and stop children from having serious accidents  Aberdeen Safer Community Trust is today supporting national Child Safety Week with activities to help families in Aberdeen city learn how to prevent serious accidents by giving just a few minutes of their time.   Just one minute can stop a child being poisoned by detergent capsules, two minutes can stop a child being badly burnt by hair straighteners, three minutes can stop a child dying in a house fire while, with 30 minutes, parents can prevent anything from falls from windows to a serious road accident. The theme of Child Safety Week – 21 to 27 June – is ‘Make time for safety!’.  Aberdeen Safer Community Trust’s activities this week include a visit to Great Western Pre-School Buzzy Bees class for 4 to 5 year olds.  The visit will involve the children taking part in ‘hands on’ safety games designed to teach them about common hazards in the home and how to stay safe.   The Trust will also be encouraging parents to sign up to the Child Safety Week Time Pledge at www.childsafetyweek.org.uk/PLEDGE. Commenting on the Child Safety Week activities, Aberdeen Safer Community Trust Chief Executive, Emma Bellu said: “Child Safety Week is a great way to learn about preventing serious accidents while also having fun.  Allowing the children in the Buzzy Bee’s class to experience risk safely by playing games is a much more effective method of teaching accident prevention.  This is also the philosophy behind the Trust’s planned safety centre, ‘Risk Ready’, which will be open to all members of the community, enabling them to learn valuable real life safety lessons in a fun and interactive environment.”  She continued: “Throughout this week we’ll be offering really practical information and solutions that can take just a moment to put into practice.  Our message is: Just a little time can make a big difference to children’s safety”  Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust, the national organiser of Child Safety Week, said: “Child Safety Week isn’t about the minor bumps and scrapes that happen every day to active children.  It’s about the serious accidents that can take months or even years to heal.  “Child Safety Week supports families to take action to make children safer from serious accidents, without wrapping them in cotton wool.  Our on-line Time Pledge (www.childsafetyweek.org.uk/PLEDGE) offers practical hints and tips for even the most time-pressed families.”   THE RETURN OF CSI: ABERDEEN Aberdeen Safer Community Trust today (16th March 2010) announced its newest CSI: Aberdeen, an exciting event designed to give participants a taste of forensic investigation.  Taking place at 6pm on 18th March at the Carmelite Hotel, the event also highlights common dangers and will play a central role in fundraising for the charity’s projects across the city focused upon building a safer, stronger Aberdeen. The charity has built upon the success of the inaugural CSI: Aberdeen event last April  and has attracted 12 teams to take part in the unique, fast-paced event with both fun and teamwork at its core. Participants will be given the opportunity to follow the examples of Gil Grissom and Horatio Caine, interviewing witnesses, examining the crime scene and testing for clues under the microscope of a forensic lab.   The event involves real life, highly trained police CSI Investigators who, along with respected local crime author Bill Kirton, will help teams to solve a crime to be staged in what will be a fun night out.  It is an exciting and unique event designed to give participants a taste of forensic investigation, test their detective and critical thinking skills and to promote teamworking. Chief executive, Emma Bellu, gave a sneak preview. She said: “We’re delighted to be running the second CSI: Aberdeen event in March.  We’ve made some changes adding a few new elements and surprises to keep people guessing but there’ll still be the same excitement and suspense in unraveling the mystery. We’re confident that we’ll even top the success of our April inaugural event.”   HOLYROOD MINISTER GIVEN LESSON FROM ABERDEEN PUPILS Aberdeen youngsters will give Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing a lesson on road safety on Tuesday, November 17, after staff at Riverbank School decided to take matters into their own hands when 8 year-old pupil Myles Ross was hit by a car. Teacher Linda McKinlay turned to Aberdeen Safer Community Trust for help, which provided funding for a “road layout” in the playground to ensure that the 247 Tillydrone pupils always remember to Stop, Look and Listen. The trust not only wants to improve the safety and wellbeing of Tillydrone youngsters but with its Risk Ready scheme it is planning to build a £4million purpose-built village in Aberdeen where whole communities throughout Grampian can be brought together to learn about staying safe in a controlled environment. After the safety demonstration from Myles and the other pupils, Mr Ewing will meet with senior representatives from the police, fire and rescue, local authorities and NHS from the Grampian region, who are backing the Risk Ready scheme. The interactive village will promote road safety, home safety, personal safety and citizenship issues. In future pupils and people from all walks of life can visit the village where they will learn about staying safe on the village road, level crossing, shops, on its purpose-built beach and family home, which will all be built when the fundraising target is reached. Older generations will learn about staying safe in their own homes at the purpose-built bungalow and family home. Motorcyclists and pedestrians will also benefit from the motorbike simulator to be built at the site. Emma Bellu, chief executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust, said: “Fergus Ewing has seen how Riverbank School has managed to hit home the importance of road safety to pupils in a fun way, where hopefully it will become second nature. Aberdeen Safer Community Trust aims to go further by bringing whole communities and different generations together at the village. For example, older people who may fear youngsters can not only learn about safety in their own home, but discover that by coming into contact with young people, they may feel more comfortable in their company. “We aim to get the Scottish Government to back the Risk Ready scheme, which will not only benefit the people of the north-east, but the whole of Scotland.” Mr Ewing is a keen supporter of a similar scheme in Edinburgh, where experiential learning is used to reinforce safety messages.  He commented: “The Scottish Government takes road safety very seriously and is committed to making the roads safer for all users. Good progress has been made in recent years in cutting road casualties but more needs to be done to address safety on our rural roads. “Initiatives such as this road layout in Riverbank School can help educate the pupils about the dangers on our roads in a safe environment and help prevent further accidents such as happened to Myles Ross. “The plans by Aberdeen Safer Community Trust to build a Risk Ready scheme in the area will help promote road safety, home safety and personal safety and help to make Aberdeen a safer place, reducing crime and improving the quality of life for all residents and visitors in the North East of Scotland.” Amanda Ross of Woodside, Aberdeen, whose son Myles was hit by a car while visiting relatives in Huntly, said: “Myles is back to his usual self now, but he was hit while he was out with his cousin on his bike. He was thrown into the air by the force of the impact and later airlifted to Aberdeen. He was very lucky and only suffered scrapes and bruises but he was off school for a while. Anything that promotes safety in this way has to be a good thing.”   Free Timer Switches as Police & Neighbourhood Watch Launch Home Security Campaign With the clocks about to change and the evenings getting darker earlier, residents across the city are being urged to switch on lights when they head out in order to warn-off potential housebreakers. Grampian Police and neighbourhood watch schemes will encourage residents to brighten up their homes this winter with their annual 'Lights Out - You're Out' home security message. As part of this campaign, 500 timer switches are to be given away free to residents. They are available to collect from both Bucksburn and Queen Street police stations on a first-come first-served basis. Constable Jim Watson from the Crime Reduction Unit said: ''We always like to remind the residents of Aberdeen that something as simple as switching on a light can be an effective security measure against break-ins to homes. Anything that gives the impression that there is someone at home can deter a thief from attempting to break in. Even leaving the radio on can be as effective. Over the years, the number of homes being broken-in to has dropped dramatically but we can never become complacent. Any security measures we put in place are better than leaving it to chance.'' Emma Bellu, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust, who oversee Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Aberdeen said: ''Neighbourhood watch plays a vital role in keeping our communities safe. This campaign is just an example of how schemes coming together means that residents gain timely information on security helping them ward off trouble and stay safe.'' Anyone interested in starting a neighbourhood watch scheme should contact Aberdeen Safer Community Trust on (01224) 646353 or if looking for further information on home security should contact your local Crime Reduction Officer on 0845 600 5700 or visit www.grampian.police.uk   The Trust brings the Fringe Free to Aberdeen’s 50+ Festival Older and Wiser, the annual show run by Aberdeen Safer Community Trust for the 50+ festival, is returning to Aberdeen this month.  Supported by Grampian Neighbourhood Watch Association, this year’s free event will take place at the Lemon Tree from the 21st to 23rd September, with doors opening at 12 o’ clock. Designed to provide advice and information on everyday situations where older people can be put at risk, Older and Wiser uses entertainment and interactive activities to demonstrate simple techniques to deal with the risks portrayed.  As part of the day’s event, local educational theatre company, Livewire Productions, will stage a play called the Twitching Curtain.  Adapted from a play originally performed at the Fringe Festival, the show will illustrate in a lighthearted way how working together as a community can provide many advantages in local neighbourhoods.  Commenting on Older and Wiser, Doug Duthie, Chief Executive of the Trust said: ‘We are more than pleased to be hosting Older and Wiser again, which is now in its fifth year.  The over 50’s can be more susceptible to accidents and often live in fear of crime.  Older and Wiser sets out to tackle these issues by providing practical and easy to implement advice as well as a fun and entertaining day out.’  Further information can be obtained by contacting Aberdeen Safer Community Trust on 01224 646461 or from the Older & Wiser  web page. Tickets for Older and Wiser are free and can be booked by calling Aberdeen Box Office: 01224 641 122 SAFER COMMUNITY TRUST WORKING TO KEEP CHILDREN 'SAFER TOGETHER' Aberdeen Safer Community Trust is today (Monday 22nd June 2009) supporting national Child Safety Week with activities to help families in Aberdeen learn about preventing serious accidents.  The theme of Child Safety Week – 22nd to 28th June – is ‘Safer Together!’  Our activities include road safety information evenings delivered in partnership with Grampian Fire and Rescue specifically aimed at children from the ages of 11 to 15 years old.  Our first event takes place at the Youth Group at the Jesmond Community Centre in Bridge of Don on Wednesday 24th June 2009 at 7pm.  These events are designed for children and others in the community to meet with professionals from our emergency services to learn about the real risks facing children and how to prevent accidents and keep our children ‘Safer Together’.  Commenting on the Child Safety Week activities, Doug Duthie, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Safer Community Trust said: “We are delighted to be involved in Child Safety Week 2009.  Serious accidents can have a devastating effect on children and their families.  That’s why we want to alert families in Aberdeen to the dangers and the simple steps they can take to prevent serious accidents.”  Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust, the national organizer of Child Safety Week, said: “It’s hard for parents to stay one step ahead of children who are developing fast and have endless amounts of energy.  That’s why making safety a habit – for example, always putting your kettle to the back of your work surface, checking your smoke alarm each week, or making sure children are strapped in on every car journey – can take some of the pressure off parents to always have eyes in the back of their heads.” Click here for links to further information on Child Safety Week      CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF BIBBY OFFSHORE TELLS WHY HE'S VOLUNTEERED Chief executive of Bibby Offshore, Howard Woodcock, recently volunteered his time to take part in our Executive Briefing, an event designed to launch our Risk Ready fundraising campaign to the corporate sector.  Speaking at the launch, Howard hoped to be able to bring what the offshore oil and gas industry has learned regarding personal responsibility for safety to The Trust’s efforts in getting Risk Ready, a large purpose built training facility established in Aberdeen. In business terms, the impact of accidents at home and on the road is both human and financial.  Lost working time, occupational and rehabilitation costs, the impact of bereavement on a victim’s family and on other members of staff are just some of the considerations that must be given when we think about the importance of improving safety out with the work place.  The Risk Ready centre will be a state of the art facility designed to boost safety awareness across Grampian, helping to prevent unnecessary injury and death, reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents, visitors and investors in the region.  The aim is to construct an interactive village, containing real life scenarios coupled with 21st century technology to provide an experiential way to learn about safety and good citizenship.  A total of £4 million has to be raised which may seem a huge amount but when you consider the cost of a single fatal road accident to tax payers in the North East of Scotland is approximately £1.6m, it is easy to see how quickly the centre could pay for itself.  At the event, which took place at the AECC, Howard drew on personal experience of a fatal accident during his time at sea to illustrate how we can all learn to behave in a safer way away at work but also when we go home at night.   “The incident in which I was involved has undoubtedly shaped my attitude towards health and safety, and my belief that it is the fundamental right of each and every one of my colleagues.  “As such, I am always keen to ensure that there is a very positive health and safety culture within Bibby Offshore. Any way we can use this to make the North East of Scotland and beyond a safer place has got to be worthwhile.  “Whilst we can work hard to ensure the safety of employees in the workplace, we are currently only able to encourage them to stay safe at home. I feel that the Risk Ready centre when built will go a long way to helping to bridge this gap.  “I am keen to support Risk Ready in any way I can,” continues Howard. “Whether it be lending my time to talk to people about the importance of reducing risk in the home, raising funds, or encouraging others to visit the centre to improve their own safety. I urge others to get involved too!”     ABERDEEN SAFER COMMUNITY TRUST LAUNCHES THE RISK READY CAMPAIGN Aberdeen Safer Community Trust today (Tuesday 28th April 2009) announced its inaugural CSI:Aberdeen event, specially created in support of its £4million fundraising campaign to build ‘Risk Ready’, a state of the art safety centre, in the city.  CSI: Aberdeen is a unique, fast paced event with teamwork at its core.  Groups of friends, family or work colleagues will have the opportunity to work together as highly trained CSI Investigators, collecting and following the evidence to solve the crime.  Participants will be able to take part in experiments, compare fingerprints and examine clues under a microscope in a forensic lab.  For the budding Detective there will be witnesses to interview and a chance to test their powers of observation at the virtual crime scene.  The inaugural event is due to take place on Wednesday 29th April at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre starting at 6pm. Risk Ready project co-ordinator Emma Bellu said: “We’re delighted that our first event has proved so popular and tickets are now sold out.  We have teams from a range of companies taking part including AVC Media, Aberdeen Football Club, McCue and Porter, The Chamber of Commerce and Aberdeen College as well as groups of family and friends.  Their support will help us to raise vital funds for our ‘Risk Ready’ campaign.” The Trust will hold more CSI:Aberdeen events throughout the remainder of the year in support of its fundraising campaign.  Further information can be obtained by contacting the Trust.  Aberdeen Safer Community Trust is ‘risk ready’ with executive briefing Local charity, Aberdeen Safer Communities Trust announced the launch of its £4 million fundraising drive for the construction of a new, state of the art safety centre in Aberdeen at an Executive Briefing held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre today (21st April 2009).  The briefing attracted attendance from local business leaders, local and national politicians and senior members of the public services.  Its aim was to highlight the need for the centre as well as the benefits it would bring to North East communities, businesses, public services and visitors and to attract investment.  The event was headlined by Doug Duthie, Aberdeen Safer Community Trust Ltd Chief Executive, Howard Woodcock, Chief Executive of Bibby Offshore Ltd, Senior Accident and Emergency Consultant, John Hiscox and Trevor Eakin, Vice Chair of Spinal Injuries Scotland Charity.  Speaking at the event, Howard Woodcock Chief Executive of Bibby Offshore Ltd endorsed the plans for Risk Ready and the benefits it would bring to businesses in the area.  He called for the Health and Safety message to be taken beyond the workplace and into the everyday life of staff and their families.   Howard commented: Whilst we can work hard to ensure the safety of employees in the workplace, we are currently limited in what we can do to encourage them to stay safe at home.  In business terms, the impact is both human and financial.  Lost working time, occupational and rehabilitation costs, the impact of bereavement on a victim’s family and on other members of staff are just some of those considerations that must be given when we thinking about the importance of improving safety out with the work place.  Speaking at the event, Trust Chief Executive Doug Duthie said: “There is an acute need for a centre like this in the North East.  Statistics show that in Scotland around 1000 people a day seek medical attention following an accident suffered in the ‘safety’ of their own homes and 37 people were killed and over 1400 injured on North East roads last year alone.  Our centre will allow visitors to learn valuable skills that will help prevent future accidents and ultimately save lives.” He added: “There is also a real fear of crime in the area and the safety centre will educate people to make the right choices in order to keep themselves safe.  In addition it will inform younger people about the consequences of crime and how to avoid becoming involved in criminal activity.” The appeal already has the support of NHS Scotland, the Police and Fire Services, Aberdeen City and Shire councils and a number of local businesses.  Its supporters believe the centre will be an important asset to the North East and will not only save lives but will ultimately save vital public service resources.   Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Senior Accident and Emergency Consultant John Hiscox said: “We see hundreds of people at A&E as a result of simple preventable accidents at home and on the roads.  As well as the distress to the victim and their families there is a real financial cost.  Each fatal road accident alone costs our public services around £1.6 million pounds – that’s £59.2 million using last years’ statistics.  If we can teach people to modify behaviour at home and on the roads, in the same way we do at work, we will reduce risk, improve our safety and therefore reduce the impact that accidents have on our communities and public services.  The safety centre is badly needed and will be a valuable resource for the area.” The centre, to be named ‘Risk Ready’ will house a purpose built interactive village containing real life scenarios coupled with 21st century technology to provide an experiential way to learn about safety and citizenship for everyone across the North East of Scotland. Visitors will be able to tour different zones in the village and explore potentially dangerous situations in a risk free environment learning valuable real life lessons they can apply in their day to day lives.  Each zone will deal with a different scenario such as fire safety, road safety and the danger of building sites.  In addition there will be areas dedicated to citizenship issues such as the consequences of crime and anti social behaviour.  The Trust faces a significant challenge in reaching its £4 million target, but say they’re undaunted and excited about building the centre which will help significantly reduce accidents across the North East and improve the quality of life for its residents, businesses and visitors.  A number of fundraising events are being planned and details of these will shortly be available on the Risk Ready website.    For more information contact The Risk Ready team on 01224 637968 or development@absafe.org.uk .     TRUST SUPPORT FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH RECOGNISED WITH AWARD Aberdeen Safer Community Trust is celebrating an award for one of its longest serving employees, Emma Bellu.  Emma’s efforts in support of Neighbourhood Watch in Aberdeen have been recognised by the Association of Scottish Neighbourhood Watches with the award for ‘Best Partner in Community Safety’.  To mark the occasion, Emma, 28, will receive the prize at the inaugural Association of Scottish Neighbourhood Watches Awards dinner at the Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld on 16th April.  Emma was nominated for the award due to her unstinting work to help, advise and co-ordinate all neighbourhood watches in Aberdeen city.  Emma volunteered to carry out the task, in addition to her Trust duties in 2006 on behalf of the Community Safety Partnership which includes Grampian Police.  Since taking on this role, Emma has achieved a great deal including consolidating all Watches, creating a robust distribution system for the weekly Crime Bulletin, establishing and maintaining strong communication links between Grampian Police and Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators and has been instrumental in creating and revitalising Neighbourhood Watches across the city.  Emma said: “I’m surprised and delighted to receive this award.  I hope that it will highlight the good work done by all the members of Neighbourhood Watches across the city of Aberdeen and I will be accepting it on behalf of everyone who volunteers in this vital community service.” Emma has since moved on to lead the Trust’s Risk Ready project and its campaign to raise £4 million to build a state of the art safety centre in Aberdeen.  However, her work with the Neighbourhood Watch is being continued by 2 hard working volunteers.   From fare to fundraising – local man to run for risk ready Local taxi driver, Lee Larkins had no idea when he picked up a fare in his taxi that it would lead to fundraising for Risk Ready, the planned new safety centre for the North East.  After picking up Emma and Fiona, project leads on our Risk Ready campaign, to take them back to their office following a business meeting, Lee found himself in conversation with the girls about the proposed centre and the benefits it would bring to people of the North East of Scotland.  Initially in awe of the challenge faced by the Trust to raise the £4million needed to build Risk Ready, Lee was inspired by Fiona and Emma’s enthusiasm for the project and he subsequently offered to run the London Marathon in aid of the campaign.  As a result of that first meeting Lee has developed a close link with the Trust and is now running in a total of 3 races over the next twelve months to raise money for the Risk Ready campaign.  Lee will be in action first of all at the Baker Hughes 10k run here in the city of Aberdeen on 24th May.  Following that, he will take part in the Glasgow half marathon on 6th September later this year.  The culmination of Lee’s efforts will be his participation in the London marathon in 2010.  Sponsor forms for the Baker Hughes 10k event in Aberdeen are available to download on the website for anyone who wishes to pledge support.  Alternatively, contact the office by phone or email to make your pledge.  Details of sponsorship for forthcoming events will be posted on our website soon.  Lee’s generosity in support of our campaign is greatly appreciated and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him publicly for his efforts.  We hope many of you will pledge your support too and turn out to cheer him on to the finish line of the Baker Hughes 10k race in Aberdeenon 24th May.     ABERDEEN SAFER COMMUNITY TRUST BECOMES A COMPANY                                 On 1st April 2008 the Trust became a Company Limited by Guarantee having no share capital. The main objectives of the Trust remain the same and we retain our charitable status. This step was taken as the Trust is to embark on the adventure in creating the safety centre in the north east. The change puts the Trust on an even more professional footing and also streamlines some of our procedures. We can assure all our previous and potential customers that we will continue to serve them with the high level of service they so rightly expect and deserve.