Lewisham College hosted a Safer Schools event with Community Police and Youth Engagement Officers to help young people in the borough to learn more about safety and careers in the Police force.
The Safer Schools event was held at the College’s campus in Lewisham Way and provided young people with advice on staying safe in the area and information on how to contact the police. They also heard about the volunteer police cadets and ride-along schemes and the range of careers available in the police force.
Safer Schools is a scheme designed to educate, empower and protect the school community by building relationships with the local police force and providing support and safeguarding information to young people in educational institutions.
Asfa Sohail, Principal of Lewisham College, said: “Our learners tell us they feel overwhelmingly safe in College, but we know that for many they may encounter challenges in their lives. We are delighted to be able to introduce them to schemes such as Safer Schools to provide them with the help and support they need to achieve their goals and stay safe.”
PC Savage-Knight, Community Police Officer for Lewisham College, said: “This event is an excellent opportunity for the Police to build a relationship with young people and to show them how we can provide support and education to help them stay safe. Engaging with our community is key to preventing antisocial behaviour and we look forward to building on our relationship with Lewisham College to create a safer environment for everyone.”
John Jacobs, Lewisham College student, said: “After attending the Safer Schools event, I feel more confident in contacting the Police and I understand what my rights are in a stop and search situation. I also found out the career paths available in the Police force that I didn’t know existed, which has opened my eyes to the many opportunities available to me.”
Attendees of the event also received information about Fearless, an online platform to report antisocial behaviour anonymously.
If you have concerns about safety, bullying, abuse, radicalisation or exploitation contact the College’s Safeguarding team on 020 3757 4120 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..