Postive Activities for Young People: Nearly 50 young people graduate from the Three 9s Challenge!
Connexions' PAYP programme celebrated success recently when the Three 9s graduation took place on Thursday 1 June 2006 at the National Watersports Centre in Holme Pierrepont, near Nottingham.
Before the youngsters graduated they faced the fourth phase of the challenge - the White Water Challenge. The participants were involved in various water activities such as raft building and racing to Bell Boat racing, which is similar to oriental dragon boat racing. There were also demonstrations by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service water response team, St Johns Ambulance, who brought two emergency ambulances, and Nottinghamshire Police’s Dogs and Mounted section, to demonstrate other aspects of work undertaken by the emergency services.
The Three 9s Challenge has been organised by Schools Officers from Nottinghamshire Police with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue service. The organising schools officers are PC 932 Paul Kanikowski and PC 1194 Martin Tristram, from South Nottinghamshire Division and PC 641 Dave Case and PC 1910 Andrew Hand, from Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood Division.
The multi-agency event has been funded by Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) and the Big Lottery Fund. PAYP is a targeted programme designed to help combat crime and anti-social behavior in young people and help them back into education, training or work administered by Connexions Nottinghamshire. Schools Officers, Crime Reduction Officers, Fire and Rescue Service, the Road Safety Team, St John’s Ambulance, Sporting Chance, Notts Trading Standards and other partners have all attended.
There have been three previous Three 9s Challenge events held that have attracted children from all over the county. The young people, aged 11 to 16-years-old, have taken part in team building activities and have also learnt about first aid and gained a qualification; personal safety; crime prevention, sexual health and fire and road safety.
PC Paul Kanikowski says: "The Three 9s Challenge has been about having fun but also ensuring that people leave with practical skills and a greater understanding of the role the emergency services play.
"It’s been a terrific opportunity for people to make new friends and develop skills that may assist them later in life. It’s been very successful and we are looking to repeat the Three 9’s Challenge next year."
PC Dave Case adds: "It’s a culmination of 10 months hard work by these young people. It’s a credit to how hard they have worked."
