A PIONEERING children’s safety initiative is being launched this month in Keighley.

Three schools are taking part in the venture, which has the support of a wide range of organisations and agencies.

The Children’s Year of Safety will be formally unveiled at Braithwaite and Guard House Gala, on Saturday, September 16.

Our Lady of Victories, Merlin Top and Laycock schools are all involved in the campaign.

Each term during the academic year they will cover different topics around safeguarding and safety.

Among those who helped set up the project is Keighley West councillor Adrian Farley, who said: “It’s about education and raising awareness, but also giving people the confidence to take action and make a call if they have a concern over the welfare of a child – and importantly, knowing who they should contact.”

He hopes that if the scheme is a success, it will be rolled out to other parts of Keighley and the wider Bradford district.

A logo designed by a pupil at Our Lady of Victories School will be used on posters and other materials promoting the initiative.

Tiannie Jessop won a competition to create the design. She met the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Keighley Central councillor Abid Hussain, and worked with a professional designer at Bradford Council who helped finalise the logo.

Cllr Hussain will be at the gala to help with the launch, and to judge a children’s fancy dress contest.

The gala – which is being repeated following its successful revival last year – takes place at Merlin Top Primary Academy, in Braithwaite Avenue, from 11am to 2pm. Attractions will include a cave bus, bouncy castle, team sports, face painting, under-fives messy play, crafts, food and stalls. The fancy dress judging will be at 12.15pm.

Several organisations working in the area are involved in staging the event, including the schools, children’s centre, voluntary groups, the Church of England and Bradford Council, and support is being provided by West Yorkshire Police.

To book a stall, contact Merlin Top Primary Academy on 01535 210028. For further details about the event, contact Liz Parker at Keighley area co-ordinator’s office – liz.parker@bradford.gov.uk – or on 01535 618008.