RoSPA seeks a young person for top role in road safety

Young people are being invited to take the lead in road safety with an opportunity to head up a project with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

RoSPA has received funding through the Changemakers Foundation to support its second “young advocate” – a hands-on role to give people aged between 18 and 25 the chance to help save young lives.

Following the completion of a successful first partnership with Changemakers’ Young Leaders programme, RoSPA is now looking for another advocate to work in its road safety team.

The young advocate will be placed with RoSPA for 10 days over a six-month period and will take the lead in a project to improve the safety charity’s involvement with young people in road safety.

Alongside safety education and leisure, home and occupational safety, road safety is one of RoSPA’s key areas of work.

The first young advocate to work with RoSPA led a project researching young people’s attitudes to driver training and completed her placement this month. Her findings helped prompt the creation of the Young Drivers Assessment, a new RoSPA service which offers expert appraisal and advice on driving habits, skills and attitudes.

Cassius Francis, RoSPA youth liaison worker, said: “The Future Leaders programme provides an excellent opportunity for young people to make a difference in their world.

“Road safety is a critically important issue for young people as, sadly, far too many of them are still getting injured and killed in road accidents.

“And, as the UK’s road safety strategy prepares to move up a gear for 2010 and beyond, this is an opportune moment to become a young advocate on this issue.”

While the Young Advocate will clearly benefit from working with the UK’s leading safety charity, RoSPA also stands to gain from the Future Leaders programme, which is designed for organisations seeking to improve the way they engage with young people. Throughout the placement, a Changemakers mentoring partnership will be in place for RoSPA as well as the Young Advocate, giving the Society access to Changemakers’ expertise and experience of increasing youth involvement.

Anyone interested in the scheme should request an application form from Jenny McWhirter, RoSPA risk education adviser, at jmcwhirter@rospa.com to be returned by May 27. Interviews for the post are due to take place on June 3.

RoSPA's mission is to save lives and reduce injuries.

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