Pupils at Wallbrook Primary Academy learned essential water safety skills during a hands-on workshop delivered by the Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust. The session gave children practical knowledge on how to stay safe around canals and other waterways while exploring their local environment.
Through interactive activities, pupils discovered how to recognise hazards, respond in an emergency, and contact the emergency services. Central to the day was the simple acronym SAFE – Stay Away From the Edge – a key rule to help children make safe choices near canal ways.
Pupils also learned about the Black Country’s industrial heritage and the crucial role that waterways played in shaping the region’s development, leaving them with a greater appreciation and connection to their local community.
Academy Principal, Lorna McGregor, said: “Workshops like this matter because they give children skills that could keep them safe in real-life situations, while also helping them understand the history and importance of the canals in our community. It’s about more than learning facts, it’s about helping them see the world around them in a new way.”
The Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust operates narrowboat tours through tunnels and caverns that were once central to the region’s industrial past. It also works to preserve the Black Country’s historic waterways and surrounding environments for future generations.
