21 June 2006 00:00 Central Networks launches new poster competition to warn children to stay away from electricity substations

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is challenging pupils from across the Midlands to design a poster to warn local children about the potential dangers of playing near electricity.

Every year many children are harmed by electricity from playing too near substations and overhead pylons and yet a recent Children’s Rights Director Survey has shown that only one in 20 children see electricity as dangerous*.

Launched as part of Child Safety Week, the Power Discovery Zone Substation Safety Challenge will be made available to primary schools throughout the East and West Midlands.

Anita Davis, Network and Public Safety Adviser with Central Networks said: “The new competition has been especially designed to alert children to the hidden dangers of electricity and encourage them to stay away from hazardous situations.

“Working with schools, we’ve developed a fun and easy competition challenge that is interactive and teaches children important safety messages that could one day save their lives.”

The competition is open to 9 to 11 year olds in years 5 and 6 and the winners will receive a £100 prize for themselves and £250 for their school. The winning poster will be produced and sent to all local primary schools across central England to warn other children of the potential dangers of electricity.

Central Networks, a company of E.ON UK, worked closely with teachers and pupils to ensure that the Power Discovery Zone Substation Safety Challenge provides a free and exciting interactive lesson plan that supports Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum.

Lynette Burridge, class teacher at Sir Alexander Flemming Primary School in Telford, said: “This resource highlights some difficult abstract issues in a very clear and relevant way, especially for our year 6’s, who will be more open to peer influence and need to prove themselves as they move on the Secondary school in September.”

Teachers who would like more information or to request an information pack should visit www.powerdiscoveryzone.com and follow the directions in the Teachers Zone.

Notes to editors:
*2006 Children’s Rights Director Survey relating to the Be Safe outcome of Every Child Matters (ECM)
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across Central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables – enough to go round the Earth almost four times – and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Jamee Majid on 024 7642 5011