A new Scooter safety and awareness programme for young people has been successfully piloted and is now set to be launched across Islington.<br><br>The programme is run by Islington Council's Road Safety and Special Projects Team with support from the Safer Neighbourhoods team, the Met Police ScooterSafer team, Islington Youth Services, MAGPI, Homes for Islington, Spark Plug scooter maintenance and Islington Fire Brigade. <br><br>ScootAlive is a five week practical programme aimed at young people aged from 13 - 16 years old to raise awareness of scooter safety and deter them from taking part in scooter-related anti-social behaviour. <br><br>Ten young people from Islington's Canonbury Project youth club who took part in five workshops will be presented with certificates by Islington's Mayor Cllr Jyoti Vaja at 2pm on Friday 13 April 2007 at the Rosebowl Youth Club, St. Paul's Open Space, N1.<br><br>Cllr Lucy Watt, Executive Member for Environment, Islington Council said: "Young people like to ride scooters but - like residents - we believe this shouldn't be at the expense of their and other people's safety.<br><br>"ScootAlive initially came about when we listened to local concerns about public safety and anti-social behaviour relating to moped use on the New River Green estate. These workshops teach young people to be more aware of their own safety but also to be considerate of the needs of the local community. <br><br>"If young people can pass on the safety message to their peers, we can make our roads safer. We've had positive feedback so far and are looking to implement ScootAlive in other parts of the borough in the near future." <br><br>Roger Elderton, Senior Detached Youth Worker at the Canonbury Project said:<br>"ScootAlive has been an excellent opportunity for the young people we work with at the Canonbury Project and New River Green. I have seen how it has motivated them to make a more positive use of their time and feel better about themselves today than they did yesterday. As an experienced youth worker I'd say that is a very positive step forward." <br><br>Ends<br><br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009