1,000 kids visit National Construction College

More than 1,000 nine to 11 year-old children have descended on the National Construction College South in Erith during the past fortnight for the annual Junior Citizen Scheme event.

A joint project between Bexley Borough Council and the Metropolitan Police, the scheme is a self-funding project providing practical ways of teaching young people how to look after themselves and how to behave responsibly in dangerous situations.

The National Construction College South has been involved with the scheme since 2001, but this is the first year the College has hosted the event.

During the fortnight, the College has provided premises for many different mock safety incidents, with the College's own scenario based around a mock building site designed to introduce the children to the dangers associated with construction.  

John Sheppard, manager of the National Construction College South, said: "This has been an excellent opportunity for us to show children and teachers just how exciting and rewarding a career in construction is. We hope that by getting involved with initiatives such as the Junior Citizen Scheme, we will turn more young people onto the idea of a career in construction and eventually help introduce much-needed man power to the industry."