Warning zone education centre to reopened as appeal fund gets close to £1m target

Leicester based charity Warning Zone is to open its new interactive education centre after   almost raising the £1m required to equip its new premises in the city centre

Warning Zone, which is run by charity Leicestershire and Rutland Crimebeat, teaches year six pupils how to stay safe, about the risks associated with anti-social and criminal behaviour and giving them the life skills to have fun without fear. Back in March, Warning Zone launched a capital campaign appeal to raise the remaining £400,000 of an overall £1m requirement to purchase and refurbish at their premises at Frog Island, Leicester and equip it with interactive teaching scenarios known as zones.

With the appeal fund having reached over £900,000, the charity's management team gave the go-ahead to re-open the interactive education centre on Tuesday September 20. A substantial donation of £200,000 from the Everards Foundation - a charitable trust run by the Everards family, who own Leicester brewer Everards - has helped accelerate the fund towards its £1m target. In doing so it has helped work on the eight interactive zones reach completion in time to take their first session with a Leicester school on September 20.

Sharon Binfield-Hill, Chief Executive for Warning Zone, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce the re-opening of Warning Zone.

“We would like to thank all the individuals, organisations and businesses who have supported us in our quest to have the building equipped with all interactive scenarios and be ready to receive schools in September. We are still fundraising to help us finish off some final areas of the building that won't affect our ability to deliver the educational sessions. We would hope that people will continue to support us to achieve these aims.

“Overall it's fantastic to have the opportunity to make this valuable teaching resource available again to young people in the Leicestershire and Rutland region. It's a very proud day for the Warning Zone project.”

Richard Everard, Chairman of Everards Brewery and Trustee of the Foundation, said:“I passionately believe that young people deserve the best possible start in life. Warning Zone is a fantastic facility which brings it home to young people just how easy it is to bake a bad decision that not only has lasting consequences for them and their futures, but also for the communities in which they live.

“A charity, Leicestershire & Rutland Crimebeat, has successfully created this unique centre in Leicester and I now sincerely hope that it is put to good use and supported by other agencies and organisations in the city, Leicestershire and Rutland.”

Individual and community organised fundraising events have helped to keep funds rolling in during the summer months , generating much needed cash for Warning Zone appeal. A recent Osprey cruise at Rutland Water organised by the two current High Sheriffs of Leicestershire and Rutland helped to raise £5,000 for Warning Zone and a golf day organised by Rutland businessman Tony Ruddle raised a further £6,000 towards the fund.

Leicester based Warning Zone is made up of a series of interactive scenarios based around issues such as criminal damage, arson and road safety, that provide settings in which children and young people learn about risk, peer pressure, safe decision making and personal responsibility. Visitors work in small groups of six and there are no pens or paper, with everything being hands on, visual and experiential.The young people taking part in the Warning Zone sessions are placed in credible life-like situations requiring decisions to be made and consequences discussed.

More information about Warning Zone can be found at: www.warningzone.org.uk