Stay safe, Avoid trouble

Aim

We need to fund 27 courses for over 420 children moving to secondary school, providing them with knowledge and skills to help them stay safe

We have been running courses for the last 4 years and to date over 400 children in their last year in primary school have attended. We believe it is very important that children are aware of the safety issues around the transition from primary to secondary school, which will help keep them safe and make their secondary school experience more rewarding.

We have some funding from Wandsworth Council, but major funding bodies do not provide funds for work in schools, however much the schools want the support we provide. We have funded from our own resources for 4 years, but as our work has expanded we now need to ask for donations from people living in these communities and those who understand the benefits of what we are doing.

The funds we raise will be used to support our work in Lambeth, Wandsworth and Southwark during this current school year and provide continuity for 2027.

We work on some of the most deprived estates in south London, many are the subject of regeneration, where communities are multicultural and highly mobile. This is a difficult situation for young children living with potential violence and poverty. In many of these schools over 60% of children have free school meals and over 50% do not have English as their first language.

32 million days of learning were lost in 2025 and the life time cost of exclusion from school has been calculated at £370k per individual (source IPPR). In addition, acts of violence in the UK cost £16.7bn per annum; this means the average cost of an incident is £15k. Helping children to stay safe and avoid trouble at this stage of their education is a major benefit to the children, their families and the community at large.

Jason runs the delivery of the courses, which he has designed over 20 years of teaching and lived experience, having worked in over 110 schools. Courses cover issues such as travelling to an unfamiliar area, being followed, mobile phone safety, key contact numbers and people to speak to, gangs and grooming. Jason is also an MMA instructor and provides the children with some basic skills to avoid trouble.

The courses are 6 one hour weekly sessions for up to 15 children. We work in schools with their Year 6 classes, splitting the class into two groups. At the end of the course we expect children to:

• have enhanced confidence
• have improved awareness skills
• make better decisions
• avoid the wrong type of person
• know what to do in threatening situations.

All our courses are delivered free of charge.

We have excellent testimonials from schools where we work:

Head Teacher, St George’s Battersea.

‘We have worked with Safety4Kids for four years now and they do not disappoint. The team are friendly and communicative and the children really enjoy the sessions. 

Our Year 6 pupils look forward to their sessions each week. The transition programme is fun and engaging. It gives the children real confidence about staying safe as they get ready for secondary school with lots of practical tips and safety advice. Jason is an excellent tutor — enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeable. We are so grateful for the positive experience he created for the children and feel confident that they are heading off to secondary school with a strong sense of how to keep themselves safe. 

This year, Safety4Kids also ran a session with our Year 6 parents which was really well received. We would highly recommend this programme to any primary school wanting to enhance their transition work or any secondary school wanting to build on keeping their Year 7’s safe as they start the next chapter of their education.’ 

Head Teacher, St Mary’s Battersea

‘The Safety4Kids sessions have proven to be invaluable in preparing our Year 6 pupils for their transition to secondary school. These interactive workshops instil essential life skills, fostering resilience and autonomy amongst our pupils. The children learn about personal safety in various contexts, equipping them with the confidence to navigate new environments.

Additionally, the sessions promote vital communication skills, encouraging pupils to voice concerns and seek assistance when needed, thereby nurturing a sense of community and support. This proactive approach enables students to feel more secure as they enter a larger academic setting.’

 Year 6 teacher, Falconbrook

‘The Safety4Kids course has been truly pivotal in building our children’s confidence as they prepare for the transition to Year 7. Through engaging, thought-provoking questions and dynamic discussions, the sessions helped our pupils deepen their understanding of potential dangers they may encounter in everyday life.

 What stood out most was the calm, caring, and sensitive manner in which the sessions were delivered. Every child’s voice was heard, and the respectful environment encouraged openness and peer support throughout.

 The blend of discussion and practical self-defence really struck a chord with our pupils. They learned vital skills—from being aware of their surroundings and knowing what to do in unfamiliar or challenging situations, to memorising emergency contact details and understanding how to physically protect themselves if necessary. 

 It’s no exaggeration to say this was one of the most impactful workshops our children have taken part in. *Over the weeks, they are now feeling empowered, informed, and ready to carry these skills forward into secondary school.*

SUMMARY

 We are working with over 420 children this year and have funds to cover 150 children. The funds we raise will be used to deliver courses to the remaining 170 children; 85% of the money will be spent on working directly with the children, with the balance on admin and reporting. We expect to raise sufficient funds to cover this expenditure for 2 years to provide continuity of service as demand for our services grow. All our courses are provided free of charge to the schools.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st July 2026 at 1:02pm