PORT OF GOOLE TEAMS UP WITH GMAT TO TEACH CHILDREN A LESSON ABOUT WATER SAFETY
Associated British Ports (ABP), the owners and operators of the Port of Goole, has teamed up with local charitable trust Goole Martial Arts Trust (GMAT) to raise awareness among local children of the dangers of playing in around the port’s dock waters.
ABP has been the main sponsor of GMAT’s three-week campaign to educate primary schoolchildren about the importance of water safety, which has seen Tina Martin, the charity’s Chair of Trustees, speak to over 1,500 youngsters. Colin Henery, ABP Goole’s Safety Manager, joined Tina for her final presentation, given to the children of Boothferry Primary School.
The safety campaign was launched just over four weeks ago, following weather forecasters predicting an imminent heatwave. With ABP’s sponsorship money, GMAT was able to produce a bespoke leaflet which has now been distributed to hundreds of local schoolchildren. A prize draw also saw the children having the opportunity to win swimming lessons, water-safety training with the local fire brigade and, for one lucky child, a free one-year pass to the local swimming baths, courtesy of East Riding Council.
GMAT’s ‘Don’t be a fool in the waters around Goole’ campaign has coincided with ABP’s nationwide summer-safety awareness campaign to warn children of the dangers of playing in and around ports’ waters. As the warmer weather during the summer holidays inevitably heralds an increase in children attempting to swim wherever they can, ABP decided to provide local schools with ‘hard-hitting’ posters and leaflets that warn of the hazards of this activity before the summer-holiday period began. The information has now been sent to some 150 schools within a five-mile radius of the Company’s ports across the country.
Tina Martin thanked ABP for helping GMAT to promote their water-safety campaign:
“GMAT was excited to receive sponsorship from ABP because we knew that it would enable us to reach more children. Every single extra child we’ve reached is potentially a child saved from drowning. Without the support of ABP, we wouldn’t have reached as many children.”
Matthew Kennerley, ABP Port Director for Hull & Goole, said:
“I’m very pleased that ABP has been able to team up with GMAT to promote awareness of water safety. It is vital that children realise that swimming in docks is extremely dangerous – the water is deep, cold and unpredictable. It is not like a swimming pool, with lifeguards and safety systems in place. The only way to be safe is to avoid it altogether.” |
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