Clare farming community urged to help teachers deliver farm safety education

AgriKids and Irish Rural Link are calling on communities to register their interest in a new farm safety education manual designed to support primary school teachers, and members of their local farming communities, with the tools needed to co-deliver an effective farm safety education programme in the classroom.

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine with additional funding from Flogas, the launch of the resource will include two pilot events this week, in Clontibret National School in Monaghan and Kilmihil National School, county Clare.

 Kilrush-based Advisory Board Panel Member Sergeant Edel Burke said she was very happy to serve on the advisory panel for this initiative.

"Getting children engaged in farm safety early on can help prevent the simplest of accidents from happening on the farm.

"Having as many people from the community involved in educating children about the dangers on the farm will send a stronger message to the wider community also”.

The manual includes information on how teachers and members of the community can work together to co-deliver the programme; ideas for topics which can be covered; tips for making the information accessible for children; and much more.

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It is just one of several new learning supports in development under the Engage, Educate & Empower pilot, a community-led learning initiative in farm safety education.

As well as the creation of the manual on community-led learning, a farm safety gaming app and a video animation to the farm safety song, ‘When You’re Working on the Farm’ are also in development and due for release later this month.

These new resources will be freely available to schools and communities and add value to AgriKids’ existing suite of supported learning farm safety programmes, where the Engage, Educate & Empower ethos originated.

The community led learning strategy has been collated with input from an advisory panel made up of members of An Garda Siochana, teachers, farmers, community development officers and farm accident survivors, all of which have been involved in or participated in farm safety events in the past.

Their unique insight is invaluable in creating a high impact and relevant resource, so teachers can have support in delivering curriculum linked lessons on farm safety with assistance from members of their community.

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