30 July 2010
Youngsters who have travelled from across the world to attend Norjam 2010, the Scouts Association jamboree starting tomorrow (Saturday,July 31), will also learn vital lessons about the potential dangers of electricity.
EDF Energy Networks’ team of education advisers and staff volunteers are due to talk to Scouts and Guides from August 2 to 6 at the week-long event (July 31-August 7) being held at the Norfolk Showground, Norwich.
Children will be able to see a model electricity substation and learn the hazards of playing near such equipment. They will hear how high voltage electricity can jump gaps and be conducted through anything - including fishing rods and kites if they were to touch overhead lines – with the potential for tragic consequences.
EDF Energy Networks’ education team regularly attends schools and Crucial Crew events (where various organisations run interactive lessons for schoolchildren) across the East of England, the South East and London.
Next week’s venture also builds on the success of sessions at Barracudas Activity Day Camps in 17 different locations last summer where 1,979 youngsters took part.
Four employees from the company’s office in Fore Hamlet, Ipswich, will be helping to deliver the sessions at Norjam 2010, as part of the Helping Hands scheme which gives staff two days of company time every year to volunteer for community and environmental projects.
Sonya Keating, EDF Energy Networks Senior Education Adviser, said: “This event gathers together thousands of young people so we think it is an ideal opportunity to ensure they understand the potential dangers and consequences of interfering with electricity. They will learn valuable safety lessons which will last them a lifetime.”
The team will also be highlighting the website www.edfenergy.com/powerup which teaches about the wonders and dangers of electricity. It is aimed at students aged seven to 14 and also provides information and resources for teachers and parents. The website was re-launched in May after the company developed ideas and feedback from students, and attracted 8,978 viewers that month– an increase of 34% compared to 3,043 in April.
EDF Energy’s Programme for Greener Schools, which aims to reach 2.5 million children by 2012, encourages teachers and schools to share examples of best practice via www.jointhepod.org. Participating schools can blog about their projects, share images, movies, podcasts and written work and these are accessible to other registered schools who wish to start similar activities.
Any school or educational group that would like to increase awareness of electricity among pupils should contact EDF Energy Networks’ education team on 01473 266473.
ENDS
For further information, contact Tracey Sparling in the EDF Energy press office on 08701 962504.
Notes to editors:
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around a fifth of the nation’s electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK’s nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Climate and Social Commitments EDF Energy has launched the biggest environmental and social programme of any UK energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.