School project gets more children wearing helmets
BBCA group of Jersey primary school pupils have come up with a cycle safety programme after discovering that some of their friends did not wear helmets.
Rouge Bouillon's school council, made up of children between the ages of four and 11, have worked with local businesses to offer subsidised helmets, children under 14 years of age are required to wear a helmet when cycling according to Jersey law.
St Helier Constable Inna Gardiner invited the group to the town hall to congratulate them on their hard work and to listen to their ideas.
"It was amazing, they've done their own research and they decided to take action," she said.
Eight-year-old Lyra explained how dangerous it can be not to wear a helmet: "You need to protect your brain because if you fell off your bike you might fall on the road and you might actually crack your head open or damage your brain."
Ethan, 10, said people should protect their heads as much as they protect their devices.
He said that most people use a cover to protect their phones: "So people care about their phones and people think they can't live without their phones, so they protect it.
"They should protect their head the way they protect their phone with the case. The helmet is like the case."
After surveying other pupils at their school, the children said some do not own them because their families think they are too expensive.
Eighty six discounted helmets have been sold at the school, something made possible by partnering with local businesses.
The children were also inspired by working with the brain injury charity, Headway Jersey.
Ambassador for Headway Alison Marshall whose son died in a skate boarding accident said: "The way that helmets are going to be used more in the future is culture change.
"It's just like a seat belt, nobody wore it, nobody wanted to. Now you get into a car, you don't think twice about it.
"That's what the kids want, and I really believe culture change will happen with this generation."
The Constable of St Helier said she invited the children to the town hall because she wanted to hear their ideas: "Their recommendations were really, really great.
"I invited the minister for education to join and both of us heard the children's recommendations and we will discuss how we are taking it forward.
"I would invite other schools to join the initiative that Rouge Bouillon School Council has started."
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