Safety Centre Celebrates Volunteers With Thank You Lunch

Volunteers Treated To Wonderful Thank You Lunch For Teaching Life-Saving Learning At Safety Centre

Volunteers for the Safety Centre were celebrated today for their dedication to teaching life-saving learning. Throughout the year, children, young people and adults have benefitted from their guidance and knowledge. They always leave our interactive centre educated, inspired and full of excitement, and that is all because of our incredible volunteers.

Our volunteers are at the heart of our work, as the world’s first and the regions leading safety education charity. Volunteers lead tours around our education centre Hazard Alley, which is visited every year by thousands of children, young people and adults from far and wide.

This last academic year alone, our guides volunteered over 2600 hours to teach life-saving skills and knowledge – a truly fantastic number for our first year back since COVID19.

We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this and our volunteers than by throwing a huge Thank You lunch, filled with tasty treats and fun party games. It was a great day with the same buzz of excitement we hear from everyone who visits our fantastic centre.

Meet Anthony!

Here at The Safety Centre we talk a lot about how amazing our volunteers are, so it is only fitting that we introduce you to one – Say hello to Anthony, who has been part of The Safety Centre family for over 8 years.

He is a Milton Keynes resident who generously and wholeheartedly shares his time and wealth of experience with our visitors.

In 2014 Anthony’s wife, Frances, mentioned a poster she’d seen about safety for children and the rest as they say, is history. Anthony has volunteered at the Safety Centre for 8 years, and in the past year alone has volunteered over 150 hours of his time, teaching children, young people and adults life saving learning.

Anthony’s career as a chartered civil engineer included spending years in Saudi Arabia in challenging desert conditions. Back home, he was responsible for the design and construction of a section of the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow. Then came along the EU requirement that UK road bridges must be strong enough to carry 44 tonne lorries. Anthony was in charge of the assessment/strengthening of bridges over the railway for Transport for London and LU. He has also given presentations at international conferences.

Favourite Scenario

Anthony’s favourite scenario is the Coop, where we talk about core PSHE topics of living in the wider world. This scenario focuses on bullying, shoplifting and who you can turn to for help if you need it.

Anthony said

‘If the children can remember one or two incidents and what to do, that’s great. Some children have never seen a phone box before and they’re amazed there’s a real person at the end of the phone. The centre is always moving with the times and developing to meet changing safety needs within our communities, like the development of the new knife crime scenario.’

In his spare time Anthony enjoys playing guitar with his church music group. He also enjoys sailing, gliding and karate. With lots of hobbies and experiences Anthony is always learning – from playing the violin, to scuba diving and flying and training young pilots there’s never a dull moment. He is also very dedicated to his two grandsons, who are his and Frances’s top priority.

So, what is Anthony’s advice to anyone thinking about volunteering?

I, as a volunteer, appreciate the training and encouragement the staff provide. Not all organisations offer the same level of support.

Come and have a taster and see what you think.  Its not for everyone but if you like it you’ll be hooked.

Want To Find Out More?

To find out more about getting involved in volunteering with the Safety Centre Charity call Tracy our Volunteer Coordinator on 01908 714351 or email volunteerguides@safetycentre.co.uk