JRSOs Learn the Bright Bits
This week I have been all over the county for the five launches of the Junior Road Safety Officers scheme. My bit has been to teach the children taking part the 'be safe be seen' message, particulary 'fluorescent for day, reflective for night'.
The kids seemed to enjoy it, especially the 'high vis fashion show' we had at the end of each session. (Had to say I did feel a bit mean when they asked if they could keep the garments and bags and I had to explain that I needed to keep them for other sessions, but at least it proves how much they liked them).
I think the teachers learnt a lot too judging by their comments afterwards.
The JRSO scheme is organised by our County Council (and others across the UK). It's a great way to get kids to learn about road safety. Two children per school take part, and they pass down the information to other children in their school by holding assemblies, competitions and setting up displays.
Anyway, playtime over for me and back to the office next week.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
A Camping We Will Go
This weekend my eldest went off on his first cub camp. Made me very nostalgic about when I went camping as a Girl Guide... I remember collecting wood for the fire and scrubbing cold porridge out of big pans (there's no way I'd have agreed to do that at home!).
Someone always seemed to trip over one of the guyropes. This weekend I noticed some of the newer tents had fluorescent guyropes... what a good idea...they're much easier to see in daytime and especially as it starts to get dark... so no more excuses for tripping over them!
Talking of being seen, all the cubs went off on a nighthike on Friday and were well kitted out with their BrightKidz fluorescent, reflective waistcoats - custom made in green with dark green edging and their scout group logo printed on. Afterwards they had fun with torches by shining on each other's reflective bands when they played 'wide games'.
Supernanny Uses Shiny Feet Stickers to Get Toddlers Walking to School
On TV the other week Jo Frost (aka Supernanny) was trying to get a toddler to walk to school with his sisters and mum without the young boy having a strop.
To get him interested in the journey Supernanny produced some ' happy feet stickers'.... which I immediately recognised as the Shiny Feet stickers which we sell. They had drawn a simple map of the landmarks they'd see on the way to school and each time he spotted one he was allowed to put a sticker on the map. it was a brilliant way to get him to concentrate on the walk and made life so much easier for his mum and sisters.
We love your idea Jo!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Fluorescent Fleece Beanie Caps
Last week our first stock of our new fluorescent Beanie Caps arrived. According to my dear colleagues I'm not cool enough to model them!!! Blooming cheek!!! Anyway they're only £4.30 each at the moment (get a bit of a discount if you're a school or local authority). Yellow fluorescent items are always popular but I prefer these in orange.
Last week our first stock of our new fluorescent Beanie Caps arrived. According to my dear colleagues I'm not cool enough to model them!!! Blooming cheek!!! Anyway they're only £4.30 each at the moment (get a bit of a discount if you're a school or local authority). Yellow fluorescent items are always popular but I prefer these in orange.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Saying My Bit - Institute of Road Safety Officers Conference 2006
In July I was invited to speak at the Institute of Road Safety Officers’ Conference. It sounded a bit daunting when I was first invited because I had never spoken at a national conference before.The theme of the conference was how road safety should be taught within the school curriculum.
The talk I gave was about linking road safety education with sustainable transport initiatives. In non-jargon speak, that was about making kids safer on the road and getting them to walk.
I think in the past some road safety tactics have been a bit scaremongering, the “one false move and you’re dead” approach to teaching children about being safe on the streets isn’t really going to help them in the long term. It makes parents scared to let their little darlings out, therefore they go everywhere by car, therefore don’t get used to walking along the road, and don’t get any road-sense whatsoever whilst cluttering up the streets with cars, making it more hazardous for all the children.
Personally I think the best way to make children safe near traffic is to get them used to walking, and get them used to dealing with traffic and understanding it, and being able to react to it.
If parents are to be persuaded to let their children walk, then they need to feel that their children are safer so we need to do everything we can to make the children safer but without restricting them and stopping them from walking. So that’s why I think pedestrian conspicuity is so important for children.
Anyway, the audience, who were mostly road safety officers, were interested in the way we’ve been promoting child conspicuity through projects with schools, mini workshops, the information we’ve supplied on our website and, most of all, through our product development....... and I think they quite liked having a real mum there who's got a bee in her bonnet (hmmm...high vis bonnets...hmmm...maybe good for 'Victorian Day' at school).
In July I was invited to speak at the Institute of Road Safety Officers’ Conference. It sounded a bit daunting when I was first invited because I had never spoken at a national conference before.The theme of the conference was how road safety should be taught within the school curriculum.
The talk I gave was about linking road safety education with sustainable transport initiatives. In non-jargon speak, that was about making kids safer on the road and getting them to walk.
I think in the past some road safety tactics have been a bit scaremongering, the “one false move and you’re dead” approach to teaching children about being safe on the streets isn’t really going to help them in the long term. It makes parents scared to let their little darlings out, therefore they go everywhere by car, therefore don’t get used to walking along the road, and don’t get any road-sense whatsoever whilst cluttering up the streets with cars, making it more hazardous for all the children.
Personally I think the best way to make children safe near traffic is to get them used to walking, and get them used to dealing with traffic and understanding it, and being able to react to it.
If parents are to be persuaded to let their children walk, then they need to feel that their children are safer so we need to do everything we can to make the children safer but without restricting them and stopping them from walking. So that’s why I think pedestrian conspicuity is so important for children.
Anyway, the audience, who were mostly road safety officers, were interested in the way we’ve been promoting child conspicuity through projects with schools, mini workshops, the information we’ve supplied on our website and, most of all, through our product development....... and I think they quite liked having a real mum there who's got a bee in her bonnet (hmmm...high vis bonnets...hmmm...maybe good for 'Victorian Day' at school).
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
By Car Is Not The Only Way - Work Travel Plans
A couple of years ago I went to a conference on sustainable transport. As I arrived I saw a guy who had come by train and bike asking a conference site manager where he could put his bike, and then having a bit of a dispute over the fact that there were no bike storage facilities. Slightly ironic I think.
Anyway, that incident did inspire me when I was writing our own location details on how to find us on our website recently.
Why assume that everyone is going to come by car? They are more likely to come by car if you assume that they will come by car. If you give them directions on how to reach you by walking, bus, bike or train or any other ways, then they are more likely to use those ways, because they might not have thought of using those ways until you suggested it.
So, for our location directions we give info on how to get to us by bus, train, bike and train, and finally, at the bottom, how to reach us by car with a mention of car-sharing if you can.
Nowadays many organisations (like us) have a work travel plan which gives ideas of how to reduce the amount of car travel by employees and visitors. There are lots of things that organisations can do to reduce car travel, and it doesn’t even have to cost them anything. Having directions on an organisation’s website which don’t make the assumption that everyone will come by car is a really good way to increase our culture of sustainable travel and even help the organisation financially by reducing demand for car parking spaces.
Some people might say what is the point in putting information about where our bike storage facilities are or how to get from the local station to our offices by bike or whether the local train line will accept bikes on its route. They might think
no one cycles anywa so the info is pointless, but you have to look at it the other way. If people see the information, they might think, oh yes, I'll cycle instead, so then more people start to cycle or walk or take the train instead of all turning up in their droves to fill up the car park.
A couple of years ago I went to a conference on sustainable transport. As I arrived I saw a guy who had come by train and bike asking a conference site manager where he could put his bike, and then having a bit of a dispute over the fact that there were no bike storage facilities. Slightly ironic I think.
Anyway, that incident did inspire me when I was writing our own location details on how to find us on our website recently.
Why assume that everyone is going to come by car? They are more likely to come by car if you assume that they will come by car. If you give them directions on how to reach you by walking, bus, bike or train or any other ways, then they are more likely to use those ways, because they might not have thought of using those ways until you suggested it.
So, for our location directions we give info on how to get to us by bus, train, bike and train, and finally, at the bottom, how to reach us by car with a mention of car-sharing if you can.
Nowadays many organisations (like us) have a work travel plan which gives ideas of how to reduce the amount of car travel by employees and visitors. There are lots of things that organisations can do to reduce car travel, and it doesn’t even have to cost them anything. Having directions on an organisation’s website which don’t make the assumption that everyone will come by car is a really good way to increase our culture of sustainable travel and even help the organisation financially by reducing demand for car parking spaces.
Some people might say what is the point in putting information about where our bike storage facilities are or how to get from the local station to our offices by bike or whether the local train line will accept bikes on its route. They might think
no one cycles anywa so the info is pointless, but you have to look at it the other way. If people see the information, they might think, oh yes, I'll cycle instead, so then more people start to cycle or walk or take the train instead of all turning up in their droves to fill up the car park.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Down on the Beach
Had a weekend at Hunstanton with the kids. It was brilliant. We had really gorgeous weather and we all had a really great time. The kids all wore their fluorescent high-viz sun hats and when they were down on the beach, and we were sitting and watching them, we could see just how effective the fluorescent orange in particular was in showing up against the blue sea. Everyone assumes that yellow is the most conspicuous and visible colour but really it depends on the background. If you think about it, anyone who works on the lifeboats tends to wear a fluorescent orange life jacket. Well, why is that? The sea is blue, unless it is really bad weather, and orange is a contrasting colour to blue. So, a sunny day on the beach, the best colour to make the children more conspicuous in the crowd is fluorescent orange.
Had a weekend at Hunstanton with the kids. It was brilliant. We had really gorgeous weather and we all had a really great time. The kids all wore their fluorescent high-viz sun hats and when they were down on the beach, and we were sitting and watching them, we could see just how effective the fluorescent orange in particular was in showing up against the blue sea. Everyone assumes that yellow is the most conspicuous and visible colour but really it depends on the background. If you think about it, anyone who works on the lifeboats tends to wear a fluorescent orange life jacket. Well, why is that? The sea is blue, unless it is really bad weather, and orange is a contrasting colour to blue. So, a sunny day on the beach, the best colour to make the children more conspicuous in the crowd is fluorescent orange.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Back To Blogging:
I’ve had to have a bit of a break from blogging as we’ve been so busy, things have just got really crazy here. We’ve moved offices twice in the last three months, so we are just finally settling down. Just as we get more space, we realise that we need even more! But hopefully that’s it for moves for the rest of this year anyway. I’ve also been working pretty flat out on our new catalogue which is a major task, but at last it is almost done and we are ready to be printing at the end of August, just in time for the new school year.
This year, we’ve decided to put a lot more educational information, facts and figures/ science bits into the catalogue to help people understand better about fluorescent and reflective clothing because we realise that it’s not simple, as a lot of people don’t understand what reflective and fluorescent mean, and when they work, so we are trying to get across the fluorescent-for-day, reflective-for-night message and helping people to understand what that means and what those things look like. Hopefully we have succeeded.
I’ve had to have a bit of a break from blogging as we’ve been so busy, things have just got really crazy here. We’ve moved offices twice in the last three months, so we are just finally settling down. Just as we get more space, we realise that we need even more! But hopefully that’s it for moves for the rest of this year anyway. I’ve also been working pretty flat out on our new catalogue which is a major task, but at last it is almost done and we are ready to be printing at the end of August, just in time for the new school year.
This year, we’ve decided to put a lot more educational information, facts and figures/ science bits into the catalogue to help people understand better about fluorescent and reflective clothing because we realise that it’s not simple, as a lot of people don’t understand what reflective and fluorescent mean, and when they work, so we are trying to get across the fluorescent-for-day, reflective-for-night message and helping people to understand what that means and what those things look like. Hopefully we have succeeded.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Running Man.
Had a bit of a surprise this evening. I had crashed out on the sofa after a busy day being 'working-mum/ watching-son-play-football-mum/ burning-kid's-tea-and-trying-to-hide-it-with-ketchup-mum' ... and I was reading through the Evening Telegraph (local paper). One of the paper's photographers has his own column 'Running Man' based on the ideas that pop into his head when running.
He was talking about wearing fluorscent, reflective clothing when running in general and about some 'amazing piece of kit'; a fluorescent, red running shirt from...BrightSportz. That's us! (Nearly fell off sofa in surprise or would have done if I hadn't been so flaked out).
Anyway it was a great free plug. So thanks a lot, Michael. Here's a link to his blog with the bit I mentioned.
Had a bit of a surprise this evening. I had crashed out on the sofa after a busy day being 'working-mum/ watching-son-play-football-mum/ burning-kid's-tea-and-trying-to-hide-it-with-ketchup-mum' ... and I was reading through the Evening Telegraph (local paper). One of the paper's photographers has his own column 'Running Man' based on the ideas that pop into his head when running.
He was talking about wearing fluorscent, reflective clothing when running in general and about some 'amazing piece of kit'; a fluorescent, red running shirt from...BrightSportz. That's us! (Nearly fell off sofa in surprise or would have done if I hadn't been so flaked out).
Anyway it was a great free plug. So thanks a lot, Michael. Here's a link to his blog with the bit I mentioned.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Victoria Beckham Wears 'High Vis'.
Now I have to admit I've been watching trashy TV (again)... but did you see the 'Full Length and Fabulous' programme about the Beckham's pre-World Cup party?
Victoria Beckham's dress was a really bright, maybe even fluorescent, yellow. She herself mentioned that she could be helping out in the car park as the car park attendents wear 'those luminous jackets'.
Now didn't I tell you it would catch on? I reckon next year fluorecent colours will be stars of the catwalks. Just remember I thought of it first!!!!!
Now I have to admit I've been watching trashy TV (again)... but did you see the 'Full Length and Fabulous' programme about the Beckham's pre-World Cup party?
Victoria Beckham's dress was a really bright, maybe even fluorescent, yellow. She herself mentioned that she could be helping out in the car park as the car park attendents wear 'those luminous jackets'.
Now didn't I tell you it would catch on? I reckon next year fluorecent colours will be stars of the catwalks. Just remember I thought of it first!!!!!
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Walk to School Week
Monday 22 May will see the start of UK spring Walk to School week 2006 organised by Living Streets and Travelwise.
This year the theme is 'Join the Adventure' to highlight the fun and adventures children can have by walking to school.
What adventures? I hear you say. As an adult you may think that walking to school is just a trot along the road. It's only when you hear a child's comments such as 'there's a crocodile in that puddle' that you realise what a child's imagination can make of an everyday activity.
Look out in the press for the schools taking part in a giant jigsaw activity to celebrate the week. Also your school may have received the official stickers and charts via your local authority which you can use to encourage more kids to walk (or should I say encourage more parents to let their children walk). Even if you haven't received any special resources your school can take part.... why not use the week as an excuse to launch a Walking Bus or Park & Stride scheme?
Monday 22 May will see the start of UK spring Walk to School week 2006 organised by Living Streets and Travelwise.
This year the theme is 'Join the Adventure' to highlight the fun and adventures children can have by walking to school.
What adventures? I hear you say. As an adult you may think that walking to school is just a trot along the road. It's only when you hear a child's comments such as 'there's a crocodile in that puddle' that you realise what a child's imagination can make of an everyday activity.
Look out in the press for the schools taking part in a giant jigsaw activity to celebrate the week. Also your school may have received the official stickers and charts via your local authority which you can use to encourage more kids to walk (or should I say encourage more parents to let their children walk). Even if you haven't received any special resources your school can take part.... why not use the week as an excuse to launch a Walking Bus or Park & Stride scheme?
Monday, May 01, 2006
'Doctor Who' Promotes Sustainable Travel
Doctor Who is back. Saturday nights weren't the same without him. The programme provides TV with a match for the greatest debate in film, ('Who was your favourite Bond?') - 'Who is your favourite Doctor?'. The doctor you like best is often an indication of your age... so I think I'll go for David Tennant.
He does a lot of running and walking. You rarely see him in a car. (Use of cars on set is usually for smashing things, for example to get into alien-infested locked buildings, which I'm not recommending. Although on that occasion I can appreciate it was the only option available).
We saw a good bit on sustainable transport use on the Victorian one when he jumped on Queen Victoria's horse-drawn carriage (not that he had much choice).
I'm not sure how the tardis is fuelled (and I'm sure Dr Who nerds, I mean experts, will be able to advise me), but it certainly doesn't require a fill up from the local petrol pump. The tardis doesn't appear to have an exhaust and so there are no obvious emissions (that's not to say there aren't any though).
Bearing in mind the distance he travels, I'd say he leaves a pretty clean environmental footprint of his travels.
Doctor Who is back. Saturday nights weren't the same without him. The programme provides TV with a match for the greatest debate in film, ('Who was your favourite Bond?') - 'Who is your favourite Doctor?'. The doctor you like best is often an indication of your age... so I think I'll go for David Tennant.
He does a lot of running and walking. You rarely see him in a car. (Use of cars on set is usually for smashing things, for example to get into alien-infested locked buildings, which I'm not recommending. Although on that occasion I can appreciate it was the only option available).
We saw a good bit on sustainable transport use on the Victorian one when he jumped on Queen Victoria's horse-drawn carriage (not that he had much choice).
I'm not sure how the tardis is fuelled (and I'm sure Dr Who nerds, I mean experts, will be able to advise me), but it certainly doesn't require a fill up from the local petrol pump. The tardis doesn't appear to have an exhaust and so there are no obvious emissions (that's not to say there aren't any though).
Bearing in mind the distance he travels, I'd say he leaves a pretty clean environmental footprint of his travels.
HSBC Start Up Stars Award
Last year we were shortlisted in the annual HSBC Start Up Stars awards for new businesses in the UK. Lots of businesses enter this prestigious award so we were really pleased to get to that stage. It gave us lots of free publicity, helping to raise awareness of our high vis products, walk-to-school campaign work and Be Bright message.
Entering business competitions is a really good discipline for new businesses as you have to put together so much information. So many of the ideas in your head have to go down on paper and you have to find ways to measure the impact your business has which helps with your own planning, even if you don't win. Many business awards nowadays don't only look at financial success but also at social and environmental impact (luckily for us as we're quite strong on that!).
Anyway we've just sent in our entry for this year. This time it includes our freshly written Environment Policy and Work Travel Plan as well as figures showing more than 600% increase in turnover since last year (yes, we've broken the £100,000 turnover mark) so hopefully we're in with a good chance.... Wish us luck!
Last year we were shortlisted in the annual HSBC Start Up Stars awards for new businesses in the UK. Lots of businesses enter this prestigious award so we were really pleased to get to that stage. It gave us lots of free publicity, helping to raise awareness of our high vis products, walk-to-school campaign work and Be Bright message.
Entering business competitions is a really good discipline for new businesses as you have to put together so much information. So many of the ideas in your head have to go down on paper and you have to find ways to measure the impact your business has which helps with your own planning, even if you don't win. Many business awards nowadays don't only look at financial success but also at social and environmental impact (luckily for us as we're quite strong on that!).
Anyway we've just sent in our entry for this year. This time it includes our freshly written Environment Policy and Work Travel Plan as well as figures showing more than 600% increase in turnover since last year (yes, we've broken the £100,000 turnover mark) so hopefully we're in with a good chance.... Wish us luck!
Mongolian Feast
Yesterday we went to a Mongolian Feast for the first time. Our host proudly and loudly introduced us to everyone as (Mongolian Feast) virgins. We quickly amended the situation by grabbing a metal bowl, filling it with noodles and matchstick vegestables, slithers of meat and choosing from around 20 spices to sprinkle over. You chuck the whole lot on a vast metal plate which is heated from below and shared by everyone to cook their own feast.
Absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with walking to school or high vis. The only very tenuous link I can make is that the furnace is made out of an old washing machine drum so is a good bit of recycling....which, like walking to school, is good for the environment. (Told you it was tenuous!).
Yesterday we went to a Mongolian Feast for the first time. Our host proudly and loudly introduced us to everyone as (Mongolian Feast) virgins. We quickly amended the situation by grabbing a metal bowl, filling it with noodles and matchstick vegestables, slithers of meat and choosing from around 20 spices to sprinkle over. You chuck the whole lot on a vast metal plate which is heated from below and shared by everyone to cook their own feast.
Absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with walking to school or high vis. The only very tenuous link I can make is that the furnace is made out of an old washing machine drum so is a good bit of recycling....which, like walking to school, is good for the environment. (Told you it was tenuous!).
Oh No: It's 'Safety'!
When we first started out a couple of years ago I used to go around local school fetes and have a stall selling our products. The concept of children wearing fluorescent waistcoats was a bit of a culture shock to many parents (although many dads were used to wearing them for work).
The automatic reaction of some parents was 'Oh no: it's safety, my child wouldn't wear safety' (as if 'safety' was a kind of disease). Meanwhile their child is standing next to them and longingly looking at an orange BrightKidz waistcoat (seeing 'bright funky colours' not 'safety').
So often I need to say to parents (and teachers) 'Have you asked the children what they think?'.
When we first started out a couple of years ago I used to go around local school fetes and have a stall selling our products. The concept of children wearing fluorescent waistcoats was a bit of a culture shock to many parents (although many dads were used to wearing them for work).
The automatic reaction of some parents was 'Oh no: it's safety, my child wouldn't wear safety' (as if 'safety' was a kind of disease). Meanwhile their child is standing next to them and longingly looking at an orange BrightKidz waistcoat (seeing 'bright funky colours' not 'safety').
So often I need to say to parents (and teachers) 'Have you asked the children what they think?'.
These Shoes Weren't Made for Walking
Have you ever noticed how rubbish girl's school shoes are for walking to school? Boys shoes - great - tough, cover the foot, keep the stones and rain out (unless it's a real downpour when wellies are called for).
Girls shoes, even the quality brands, tend to be low cut on the front of the foot - slightest hint of a puddle and tights get soaked. Slightest bit of grit on the path and it gets kicked in through the front of the shoe.... so we have to stop and get it out (hopping may be a good way to keep fit but it's not something I'd force a child to do to get to school!).
I'm talking about shoes for five year olds - not exactly Top Shop addicted 13 year olds (we'll save that for another Blog).
Personally I think trainers would be best all round but it would be tough to convince the schools to make that change as they like the 'smart dark' look. My son has school shoes which are trainer style but black and from Clarks - absolutely ideal. So come on Mr Clarks (and Mr StartRite and Ms Padders and Doctor Marten) bring it on for the girls...
Have you ever noticed how rubbish girl's school shoes are for walking to school? Boys shoes - great - tough, cover the foot, keep the stones and rain out (unless it's a real downpour when wellies are called for).
Girls shoes, even the quality brands, tend to be low cut on the front of the foot - slightest hint of a puddle and tights get soaked. Slightest bit of grit on the path and it gets kicked in through the front of the shoe.... so we have to stop and get it out (hopping may be a good way to keep fit but it's not something I'd force a child to do to get to school!).
I'm talking about shoes for five year olds - not exactly Top Shop addicted 13 year olds (we'll save that for another Blog).
Personally I think trainers would be best all round but it would be tough to convince the schools to make that change as they like the 'smart dark' look. My son has school shoes which are trainer style but black and from Clarks - absolutely ideal. So come on Mr Clarks (and Mr StartRite and Ms Padders and Doctor Marten) bring it on for the girls...
Saturday, March 18, 2006
We've been so busy lately that we've had to recruit some help. Instead of taking on one full-timer we've taken on four part time staff.... all with a brilliantly wide range of skills and backgrounds.
There are so many people out there who want jobs to fit in with their family or lifestyle and don't want to work fulltime or during school holidays. There are so few good job opportunities for people like that. I can't understand why so many employers are so inflexible - they're really missing out on some good staff. At least I know I don't want us to be like that so we have our 'family friendly' employment policy with lots of part time flexible working.
It should also free me up so I can spend more time blogging!
There are so many people out there who want jobs to fit in with their family or lifestyle and don't want to work fulltime or during school holidays. There are so few good job opportunities for people like that. I can't understand why so many employers are so inflexible - they're really missing out on some good staff. At least I know I don't want us to be like that so we have our 'family friendly' employment policy with lots of part time flexible working.
It should also free me up so I can spend more time blogging!
The video broke down!!! Aaaarghhh!!! Typical... our first bit of stardom on Channel Four was on Monday evening with the Three Minute Wonder programme showing our Walking Bus. All the family round the tele, 'jarmees' on first for kids, with half a minute to go video starts recording.... the wrong channel!!!! Started to faff about and attempt to reprogram with no luck....so just sat and watched it (once only but really enjoyed it).
Luckily my brother ended up with the technical genes in my family and he had recorded the programme....... and Channel Four also very kindly offered me a copy.... so I'll be able to watch it again and scrutinise to see how much of a mess our house was in the opening shots.
PS Have just been criticised for my spelling of jarmees/jarmis... should be pyjamas... but hey isn't a blog meant to be the language of the people??
Luckily my brother ended up with the technical genes in my family and he had recorded the programme....... and Channel Four also very kindly offered me a copy.... so I'll be able to watch it again and scrutinise to see how much of a mess our house was in the opening shots.
PS Have just been criticised for my spelling of jarmees/jarmis... should be pyjamas... but hey isn't a blog meant to be the language of the people??
Monday, March 13, 2006
Big night tonight - we're on the tele!
Channel Four's 'Three Minute Wonder' progammes this week are about journeys to school. These are short programmes at 7.55pm after the news. The first one features our local Walking Bus here in Geddington, Northants, UK.
I've never actually seen our Walking Bus from a distance as I've usually been on it but I'm told it looks quite spectacular with all the multi-colour fluorescent, reflective jackets so will make for good TV.
The production team wanted to film from a child's perspective so they even used a wheelchair to get to their level. When people see the programme I don't know if they will realise that our Walking Bus is an everyday occurance..... and not just for the cameras!
Channel Four's 'Three Minute Wonder' progammes this week are about journeys to school. These are short programmes at 7.55pm after the news. The first one features our local Walking Bus here in Geddington, Northants, UK.
I've never actually seen our Walking Bus from a distance as I've usually been on it but I'm told it looks quite spectacular with all the multi-colour fluorescent, reflective jackets so will make for good TV.
The production team wanted to film from a child's perspective so they even used a wheelchair to get to their level. When people see the programme I don't know if they will realise that our Walking Bus is an everyday occurance..... and not just for the cameras!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
High Vis Fever.
At one of the schools in our area, high visibility waistcoats have become the latest 'must haves'. Okay yes I know I'm biased and 'I would say that' but I honestly haven't come across a school before where so many budget waistcoats have sold so quickly with every batch they receive. As a teacher said to me 'it's the sort of thing that either just a couple of parents want or everybody has got to have it'.
The same school are also planning to start up a Walking Bus..... no worries for them about 'where to find the funding to buy the high vis waistcoats'..... as most of the parents have already voluntarily bought them for their children.
At one of the schools in our area, high visibility waistcoats have become the latest 'must haves'. Okay yes I know I'm biased and 'I would say that' but I honestly haven't come across a school before where so many budget waistcoats have sold so quickly with every batch they receive. As a teacher said to me 'it's the sort of thing that either just a couple of parents want or everybody has got to have it'.
The same school are also planning to start up a Walking Bus..... no worries for them about 'where to find the funding to buy the high vis waistcoats'..... as most of the parents have already voluntarily bought them for their children.
Who writes the Highway Code? In case you didn't know, it's the Driving Standards Agency - but now here's the interesting bit....... anyone can make suggestions and recommendations and all ideas will be considered. (You just visit www.dsa.gov.uk/highwaycode to see a copy of the consultation document and how to suggest changes).
It's currently being updated so of course yours truly had to stick her nose in! As so many children are out towards dusk or in fading daylight when visibility is poor, I had to have my say about emphasising the importance of fluorescent colours for daytime and near dusk (not just 'reflective for night').
Use of mobility scooters is going to be covered by the Highway Code for the first time. Now I don't know about you but have you ever been driving back from town at teatime (okay yes I admit I'm not totally sustainable, I DO own a car and I do sometimes drive it!). Back to the point girl.... anyway driving along in town at dusk and suddenly one of those scooters appears out of nowhere. It's usually grey or black and has an elderly gent on it inevitably wearing a grey coat......HOW AM I MEANT TO SEE THAT?????? Let me know you're there mate and I promise I will be able to slow down sooner and give you more room. It's great that you've got your freedom to travel like this but quite frankly I would like you to see a few more birthdays. Wear something bright or put a fluorescent sticker on the back of your scooter PLEASE!
Oh yes, that was my other advice suggestion for updates to the Highway Code.
It's currently being updated so of course yours truly had to stick her nose in! As so many children are out towards dusk or in fading daylight when visibility is poor, I had to have my say about emphasising the importance of fluorescent colours for daytime and near dusk (not just 'reflective for night').
Use of mobility scooters is going to be covered by the Highway Code for the first time. Now I don't know about you but have you ever been driving back from town at teatime (okay yes I admit I'm not totally sustainable, I DO own a car and I do sometimes drive it!). Back to the point girl.... anyway driving along in town at dusk and suddenly one of those scooters appears out of nowhere. It's usually grey or black and has an elderly gent on it inevitably wearing a grey coat......HOW AM I MEANT TO SEE THAT?????? Let me know you're there mate and I promise I will be able to slow down sooner and give you more room. It's great that you've got your freedom to travel like this but quite frankly I would like you to see a few more birthdays. Wear something bright or put a fluorescent sticker on the back of your scooter PLEASE!
Oh yes, that was my other advice suggestion for updates to the Highway Code.
Monday, January 30, 2006
We've just had our first delivery of fluorescent, reflective lanyards which we will be launching on the website to sell shortly. The latest craze at school is for kids to have a tamagotchi on a lanyard - so we thought 'why not design a high vis version'. So it's fluorescent orange (for daytime visibility) and then for night turn it round the other way and it is reflective.
In case you don't know what a lanyard is, it's a ribbon you put round your neck. It has a clip on the end which you can attach things too, eg for work ID cards, conference name badges. Also popular for holding iPods, keys, mobile phones, etc. For sport or leisure use for whistle, stopwatch, drinks bottle, compass etc.
Ours have got safety breaks in the back so they come apart if pulled hard or caught (important for kids and cyclists).
At night the grey/silver bits are reflective and so look bright white.
There...sales plug of the day over with!!!!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
The Reception class children at our local school went home with a free reflector each yesterday.
This was part of the big UK-wide scheme by the Nationwide building society to make them more visible to traffic after dark. It's a great idea (they won a big road safety award for it) and has helped get across the 'be safe be seen' message for night time.
In Scandinavian countries the children attach reflectors to a string. The other end of the string is fastened to the inside of a pocket. When they go out after dark they pull the reflector out and let it swing so it catches the light from car headlights.
These reflectors come in different colours and some of them are fluorescent yellow - this is the best colour as it shows up really well in daylight as well as after dark. If you didn't get one from your school or you lost yours you can buy the same type from us as well!!!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
I've turned green....This afternoon I helped out at the after school 'Green Club'. In the warmer months it's 'Gardening Club' but now it's a bit chilly for that so they renamed it Green Club. The kids do craft activities indoors to do with the environment, recycling and getting more people to walk etc. In some of the sessions they'll be doing things like Park & Stride posters and whatever else they want to do to promote all their walk to school schemes.
The ET (local paper) did another really good feature on BrightKidz.
It was all go on the media front today as the production company for a Channel Four documentary arrived to prepare for filming tomorrow. I had 'Krypton Factor' type fun (remember that?) trying to put together a wheelchair we'd borrowed from the hospital (to enable the cameraman to film at a child's level on the Walking Bus).
Turning into a bit of a saddo Celebrity Big Brother addict; soon be time to get my fix so bye for now.
The ET (local paper) did another really good feature on BrightKidz.
It was all go on the media front today as the production company for a Channel Four documentary arrived to prepare for filming tomorrow. I had 'Krypton Factor' type fun (remember that?) trying to put together a wheelchair we'd borrowed from the hospital (to enable the cameraman to film at a child's level on the Walking Bus).
Turning into a bit of a saddo Celebrity Big Brother addict; soon be time to get my fix so bye for now.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Tales from the Walking Bus #2 - Visit from our MP
Today Philip Hollobone our MP came along on our Walking Bus for the second time. It's a good idea to invite your MP along and let them know what you're up to if you've got a Walking Bus. They can tell others about your scheme which helps raise the profile. Also another excuse for a bit more coverage from the local paper - thank you to the guys and gals at the Evening Telegraph (Northants News)!! The photo of the kids wearing multi-fluorescent colour high vis waistcoats should look good in print.
Today Philip Hollobone our MP came along on our Walking Bus for the second time. It's a good idea to invite your MP along and let them know what you're up to if you've got a Walking Bus. They can tell others about your scheme which helps raise the profile. Also another excuse for a bit more coverage from the local paper - thank you to the guys and gals at the Evening Telegraph (Northants News)!! The photo of the kids wearing multi-fluorescent colour high vis waistcoats should look good in print.
Friday, January 06, 2006
My fingers nearly fell off today. I spent nearly an hour outside in the freezing cold and drizzle doing photos for our new 'special packs' for Walking Buses and class trips.
I could call it a photoshoot to make it sound glam. But what it actually meant was me out in the garden trying to cover a wet, leafstrewn plastic table with the least creased tablecloth I could find to use as a backdrop. Trying to stop the sheets of Walking Bus stickers flying away was another challenge. Bet David Bailey doesn't have those problems.
At least we've got the Walking Bus special pack on the website now (smartened up the photo first) and the Class set pack details should be published early next week.
Had a tear-around afternoon to factory and printers before parking in the local pub car park to Park & Stride and pick the kids up from school and hand out Walking Bus annual registration forms to parents.
No guilt at all about the teatime fish and chips - deserve!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Time to put the tinsel away here at Safe Kids Walking. It's been a good break but when you're not doing the daily walk to school you start to feel lethargic (yes I know.....I've been a slob, I admit it, could have done lots but TV was calling - not v good role model for the kids). At least we had good fun out in the snow the day after Boxing Day. As you can see our BrightKidz fluorescent pink fleece was tested out in the snow!
Last year when it snowed we re-named our Walking Bus the Skating Bus and someone even carried their bags on a pull-along plastic sledge. Our pushchair buggy wheels couldn't cope with the deep snow so we borrowed a 3-wheeler one for the following day. On snowy or icy days I think people must be mad to drive if they can walk - who wants to be scraping ice of the car first thing in the morning if you don't have to?
More snow forecast for the weekend....
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