LV Streetwise
The Streetwise Safety Centre
Unit 1 Roundways,
Elliot Road,
Bournemouth BH11 8JJ
Tel: 01202 591330 Fax: 01202 381569
e-mail streetwise
 
The interactive safety education centre

PRESS RELEASE

HRH The Princess Royal visits LV Streetwise

HRH The Princess Royal

THE Princess Royal began her outing to the county today with a visit to Dorset’s award winning LV Streetwise Safety Centre in Bournemouth. This was the centre’s first Royal visit. There she observed Dorchester-based Damers First School learning about keeping safe and preventing accidents on their Safety Tour and met with staff, supporters and volunteers. LV Streetwise is an indoor life sized safety education village comprising traditionally built ‘bricks and mortar’ scenes from everyday life.

Arriving at a local recreation ground by helicopter, she travelled to the safety centre with the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Mrs Valerie Pitt-Rivers. There she spent almost an hour and a half watching the Safety Tour, meeting with many of the charity’s supporters and volunteers and finally unveiling a commemorative stone plaque to mark the occasion.

The Princess Royal was met at the safety centre by a civic reception party comprising: The High Sheriff of Dorset, Adrian Scott; Pam Donnellan, Chief Executive of Bournemouth Borough Council; Sir John Butterfill MP Bournemouth West – all of whom are also trustees of the charity – along with the Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Ann Filer, Dorset Police Deputy Chief Constable Chris Lee and Alison Curtis, LV Streetwise Centre Manager.

Alison Curtis, who has been the centre manager since it opened in 1998, then escorted The Princess Royal into the safety centre where she observed children learning how to cross the road safely, make a ‘practice’ 999 call and take part in the Railway safety scenario aboard the full-size Virgin Express train.

The Princess Royal was also introduced to various groups in the village itself including: PC Andy Saunders MBE who was the project manager seconded from Dorset Police in 1997 to build the centre; Mike Emsley, chair of Trustees since 2000; Darran Gunter, Chief Fire Officer Dorset Fire & Rescue and Streetwise Trustee; Dennis Holt, Chairman of LV=, a founder sponsor and now the main commercial sponsor of the centre; Joanna Dawson, Director of Car Crash Line Group; Neal Butterworth, Editor Daily Echo; Paul Gale, Area Director Morgan Ashurst; Tony Cooke, MD Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water; Andy Heaton, Financial Director of The Gold Driving Academy; and oldest volunteer 80-year-old Denis Phillips and youngest volunteer 15-year-old Adam Fitzwalter.

Overall more than 100 supporters including 50 volunteers from the safety centre were present at the special visit. Alison Curtis, centre manager said: “It is a real honour for everyone involved with LV Streetwise - trustees, supporters and all our wonderful volunteers alike - to receive the first Royal visit in the centre’s history, particularly in what is coming up to the tenth year of operation of an amazing project we all feel so passionately about.”

Dennis Holt, Chairman of LV= said: “Protecting our children and their families is at the heart of our business and our brand, and the centre provides an invaluable service for children to learn about everyday dangers in a controlled environment. We are delighted that The Princess Royal has had time to visit this leading centre of its type, and see for herself how it helps Dorset’s children learn how to stay safe.”

For further information about LV Streetwise or volunteering at the centre, please contact Alison Curtis, LV Streetwise Centre Manager, on 07801 970883 or alison@streetwise.org.uk or visit the website on www.streetwise.org.uk

About LV Streetwise

  • LV Streetwise is an award-winning indoor life-size village in Bournemouth where people of all ages can learn about everyday safety, responsible behaviour, good citizenship and crime prevention.
  • The village covers town and country scenes from everyday life – from the full-sized LV house, road and pelican crossing to the section of railway line, building site and beach.
  • The centre was inspired, created and is now run by a multi-agency community partnership organisation operating both as a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. The emergency services, statutory authorities, voluntary and commercial sectors are all involved in supporting the centre and securing its long-term future.
  • As a consequence of the growing awareness and interest in the LV Streetwise project the number of people visiting the centre has increased year on year, and LV Streetwise, now in its ninth year, has received over 100,000 visitors. Primary school groups make up most of the visitors, but Cubs and Brownies, families, special needs and senior citizen groups also visit.
  • LV Streetwise is located at Wallisdown and is available for pre-booked Safety Tours all year round on weekdays and evenings – and on weekends by special arrangement.
  • Streetwise also offers a Conference Room, Health & Safety Training (First Aid, Fire Safety and Personal Safety) and the ultimate in group entertainment and teambuilding events – a unique Murder Mystery Evening in the real LV Streetwise village.

    • About LV=

  • LV= are the UK’s largest friendly society* and a leading mutual financial services provider, serving more than 2.5 million customers and members, and managing more than £8 billion on their behalf.
  • LV=, with its head office in Bournemouth, were co-founders of the safety centre and for the last decade have been its largest commercial supporter. In July 2007 it announced increased support of the interactive safety education centre through a four-year sponsorship deal, which included the rebranding of the centre to LV Streetwise.
  • LV= is a trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and LV= is a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. The new LV= brand identity was launched in March 2007.

* Source: Association of Friendly Societies Yearbook 2006/2007. Total Net Assets.