Each year over 1000 children, aged 7-12, visit Hazard Alley. Hazard Alley is a purpose built Safety Centre in Milton Keynes. There they are put through their paces. They experience every day risks and dangers in houses, dark alleys and building sites among other theatre-like centre settings. Issues from personal safety to dangers in farmyards, home safety to the dangers on railway tracks and from house fires to vandalism are covered.

The Hazard Alley experience in St. Albans is made possible by the St. Albans District Hazard Alley Partnership, Hertfordshire Constabulary, The District Council, Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue and Province Private Hire Limited (P.P.H).

Within the controlled settings of the centre, children are given the opportunity to assess the risks and dangers of everyday activities and act accordingly to reduce the chance of harm.

The National Curriculum now specifically acknowledges that these skills are essential. This is most explicit in subjects such as science, design and technology and physical education but also applies in many others such as mathematics, geography and history. With English and information technology, this wide range of subjects is an ideal vehicle through which to teach these skills. The personal, social and health education programme is another obvious place to include hazard and risk assessments of all kinds.

Teachers' Activity Safety Pack

Contact the Environment and Health Promotion Manager, Carlton Lomax, on 01727-819455 if you would like more information on this project.