How Does the CitizenCard Support the PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) and Citizenship Curriculum?

Young people who use and abuse age restricted products risk the following:

• Long-term health problems, serious injury or even death resulting from tobacco, solvent abuse and fireworks.
• Being drawn into criminal anti-social behaviour resulting from alcohol, the misuse of knives, solvent abuse and gambling.
• Educational under-achievement resulting from alcohol and solvent abuse.

Limiting Access

Introduction of the CitizenCard Scheme has helped to limit the early access that young people have to potentially dangerous products.

Practical support for the CitizenCard scheme

Swindon Borough Council offers Year 8 pupils in Swindon’s secondary schools the opportunity of applying for a free CitizenCard via a Rolling School Programme.

Ensure that each academic year, the Year 8 pupils in Swindon Secondary Schools have the opportunity of applying for a free CitizenCard by linking with Swindon Trading Standards. With each school’s permission the CitizenCard Officer can provide a ten-minute assembly presentation to introduce the CitizenCard and then assist with the issuing of the proof of age cards including providing a quick photograph session.

Take-up via the schools is very successful and popular as is reflected in the ‘Year 8 take-up’ table reflecting the last three years applications from each of Swindon’s secondary schools.

Educational Support of the CitizenCard Scheme

The CitizenCard can be used to emphasis the following specific topic areas within PSHE and Citizenship:

• Drug Education
• Physical Health
• Moral Responsibility
• Emotional Health
• Community Involvement

Personal Development – Ownership of a CitizenCard helps to raises self esteem and develop a sense of identity.  This encourages the well being of pupils.

Protects Health – The long term health of pupils is protected by preventing early access to purchasing potentially harmful substances.

Personal Responsibility – Ownership of a proof of age card encourages a sense of responsibility and understanding of why there are rules and regulations.

Encourages Citizenship – Discussions about proof of age cards help to raise awareness of laws and regulations in society that must be adhered to.

The Community – The distribution of CitizenCards enables young people to be seen as responsible citizens who are aware of their duties and rights.  This encourages them to lead confident, healthy and responsible lives.

Healthy Schools Award

A schools participation in the CitizenCard scheme can be used as evidence of work towards one of the key areas of development for the Healthy Schools Award.

Resources

Every secondary school in Swindon has been issued with a ‘CitizenCard’ pack entitled ‘You’ve Got the POWER’.  It is designed as a teachers resource for use with Key Stage 3 pupils and provides lesson planners, work sheets, posters and a video which all accompany the following learning areas:

• Equal Opportunities
• Discrimination
• Bullying
• Lifestyle
• Use and Abuse of Substances
• Personal Responsibility

Each lesson plan provides the following information:

• Timing – how long to allow for each lesson
• Summary – An at a glance description of the lesson’s purpose
• Resource/preparation – for effective lesson planning
• Learning Objectives - curriculum, personal and group outcomes
• Strategy – including links to the video, lesson support and suggestions for extension activities.

A copy of the ‘Power’ pack is also available for loan from the Teacher Resource Centre on 01793 708763.

Trading Standards

The duty to ensure that traders comply with age restrictions lies with the Trading Standards Service.  In order to do this they carry out test purchasing exercises with the help of young volunteers.

If you have any students who are between the ages of 13 and 16 and look their age, then they may be able to assist the Trading Standards Team in preventing unscrupulous and irresponsible traders illegal sell potentially harmful age restricted products.

This work would be of particular interest to those who are considering a career in Trading Standards, law, the police force or other enforcement agencies. They will have the opportunity to gain some experience working alongside qualified Trading Standards and Enforcement Officers and have the opportunity to ask as many questions as they like.

It may also be of interest to those considering a career in journalism or even drama.  Although volunteers are instructed to tell the truth at all times, they have to act out a situation that they would not normally put themselves in giving experience of an undercover operation.