Working To Keep Children Safe

THE GALLERIES, MARKETGATE & MAKINSON ARCADE SHOPPING CENTRES WORKING TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE

Every parent can identify with that terrifying feeling, you're out shopping and you suddenly find your child isn't where you thought they were. Panic sets in and you frantically start looking everywhere.

To minimise the trauma, The Galleries, Marketgate & Makinson Arcade are set to launch a scheme designed to protect children who become separated from their guardians.

The Child Safe Zone initiative, which launches on Wednesday 28 May aims to reunite lost children with their families as quickly as possible. Posters are on show around the centre's displaying a direct number to The Galleries security team in the CCTV control room. In the event that a child becomes separated from their guardian the security team will immediately action their search procedure.

Shoppers can pick up a free colourful wristband onto which they write their own mobile telephone number. Children in their care wear the band throughout their stay at The Galleries, Marketgate and Makinson Arcade and in the event that they are separated from their guardian, anyone finding the child can quickly make a call to let the guardian know their child is found.

Richard Paxton, Centre Director of The Galleries says "We're very pleased to be able to add the Child Safe Zones initiative to our centre's. Thousands of people visit The Galleries, Marketgate & Makinson Arcade every week and we're proud of our reputation as a safe and secure shopping environment, it's very important to us that our customers continue to enjoy the pleasant and relaxed atmosphere here. In reality very few children do become separated from their guardians at the centre's but, if that does happen, this scheme means we can reunite lost children quickly minimising the upset for everyone.”

Families should look out for the Child Safe Zone's smiley orange balloon stickers on shop windows throughout The Galleries, Marketgate and Makinson Arcade, displaying the helpline number. Anyone losing sight of a child in their care or any shopper finding a lost child can call the number on the sticker to speak directly to the security team.

The scheme will be available to every shopper with a child from Wednesday 28 May.

Safe Child Wristbands can be collected from the National Lottery Information Point within The Galleries.

For more information see www.childsafezones.co.uk