Aberdeen FC Community Trust have been working alongside Tackling Track Safety to send key messages on railway safety to school children.

The Tackling Track Safety Project is aimed at reducing crime and antisocial behaviour in and around the railway, with the ultimate goal of reducing serious injuries and deaths on Britain’s Rail Network. Over the past 10 years, there have been over 100,000 known instances of trespass on the national network and hundreds of avoidable deaths.

With this in mind, Aberdeen City and Shire is classed as a hot spot area and currently sits very close to the top of the highest instances of trespass list.

The project encompasses assemblies to all p4-p7 pupils at targeted schools with a 5 week programme combining fun based activity sessions with rail safety- which is delivered to all p6 pupils at each chosen school.

The primary delivery commences with the assembly to all p4-p7 pupils with an interactive presentation and is followed by activity sessions for p6 pupils.  

Aberdeen FC Community Trust have been working with Dyce Primary, Kintore Primary, Port Elphinstone, Riverbank, Stoneywood and Woodside. Across these six primary schools over 800 p4-p7 pupils attended an assembly about railway safety with over 300 p6 pupils then going on to complete the full 5 week programme which incorporates key rail safety messages through fun football and physical activity sessions.

“The Tackling Track Safety programme was a great addition to our Primary School’s programme last term, it is another great example of how AFCCT can help educate and engage young people through football. We will be delivery Secondary School Assemblies next term and we hope this project as a whole will help raise awareness of Rail Safety and hopefully longer term contribute towards a decrease in crime and anti-social behaviour in and around railways in the North-East.” Said Scott Duncan, Scottish FA Community Coach for the Trust.

Nick Holt, Tackling Track Safety Manager added;

“The staff that have been delivering in the schools have provided engaging activity sessions which have ensured that the participants have taken on board the key elements of the rail safety message.”

The Trust is now in the process of selecting three Academies to receive rail safety assemblies as part of the programme. All schools are strategically selected by Tackling Track Safety UK.