MORE than 500 West Devon primary school children will be taking part in next month's Junior Life Skills which is moving to two new venues this year.

For the last 18 years the event has been staged at Okehampton Training Camp. But to keep travelling costs down for the schools involved it will now take place in Tavistock Town Hall for children attending school on the southern side of the borough and Parkland Leisure Centre for the Okehampton area schools. The life skills week takes place from Monday, September 9 to Friday, September 13.

The five-day life skills week teaches Year 6 pupils — 10 and 11-year olds — how to keep themselves and others safe and how to be good citizens. West Devon Borough Council co-ordinates Junior Life Skills and makes no charge to schools who bring their children along.

At each session the children will be faced with nine different simulated scenarios, each of which they may encounter in real life. The scenarios will be set by Devon and Cornwall Police; Devon County Council Safe and Sustainable Travel Team; Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service; RNLI; British Red Cross; Dog's Trust and West Devon's Environmental Health, and Recycling Departments.

With the help of the fully trained experts at each scenario, they will learn how to recognise potential danger, deal with emergencies and be socially responsible.  They will learn how to keep themselves safe on the Internet, consider the safest and most sustainable way to travel, what to do if there is a fire at home, being safe on the beach, how to deal with an unconscious casualty and much more.

Cllr William Cann, mayor of West Devon, and his mayoress, wife Christine, will be attending the event in Okehampton on the first day. Cllr Cann said: 'Junior Life Skills is a challenge and great fun which is a perfect combination for children to learn some important messages.

'It's important to teach children how to avoid becoming victims, how to look after themselves and to learn how to be good citizens. They also have a clearer understanding of the role of the police and other emergency services.'

Junior Life Skills could not take place without the generous donations and support from West Devon Borough Council, Okehampton Educational Foundation, Manor House and Ashbury Hotels, Waitrose Community Matters Scheme, Okehampton Town Council, Tavistock Town Council, Tavistock Lions, Centrica, Rotary Club of Tavistock, Rotary Club of Yelverton, Okehampton & District Lions Club, The Technology Company, Okehampton College, local volunteers from Tavistock and Yelverton Rotary Clubs and individuals via the CVS.

Contributors towards this worthwhile event are always welcome. If any local businesses or organisations would like to become involved with Junior Life Skills, please contact West Devon Borough Council's environmental health department on 01822 813600.