Over 700 children learn vital 999 skills through story telling

More than 700 children across Tameside took part in special Story Makers sessions last week, learning how and when to call 999 as part of a wider community safety initiative.

The engaging storytelling events were held across three libraries and online as part of Operation Avro, a multi-agency day of action tackling crime and local concerns across the borough.

Funded by the Tameside Community Safety Partnership, the sessions aimed to give children essential knowledge about responding in emergencies, helping them feel more confident and prepared should they ever need to contact the emergency services.

Led by Simon the storyteller, the sessions featured the animated book “999 Emergency”, written by Susanne T Schroder and illustrated by Andy Rowland, in collaboration with Tameside families. The story was originally created during previous Story Makers sessions held between 2023 and 2024, making it a local project by and for the community.

Cllr Leanne Feeley, Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, praised the initiative, saying: “It is fantastic to hear that these sessions reached and educated over 700 children! This was an excellent activity to equip our younger residents with such crucial information. Using storybooks is a great way to engage the children and ensure they retain the information. Well done to all the teams involved in hosting these amazing Story Maker Sessions.”

For more information on Story Maker Sessions: www.tameside.gov.uk/LibrariesandLeisure/Libraries/Bookstart/StoryMakers