A PIONEERING safety initiative is being unveiled in an area of Keighley where youngsters are deemed to be at the second highest risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the whole of Bradford district.

Three schools are taking part in the venture, which has the support of a wide range of organisations and agencies.

The Children’s Year of Safety – involving Our Lady of Victories, Merlin Top and Laycock schools – will be formally unveiled at Braithwaite Gala in September.

Among those involved in setting-up the project is Councillor Adrian Farley (Lab, Keighley West), who said he was delighted that the venture was becoming a reality.

His ward was identified as being second in the CSE ‘most at risk’ table in a Bradford Council report several months ago which listed Eccleshill at the top.

Cllr Farley said the campaign centred around awareness.

“I had real concerns about the issues and have been pushing for something to be done to address them – we can’t afford not to do anything,” said Cllr Farley.

“The three schools have really embraced it and one of the things they have raised is that CSE is just a part of the issue, the tip of the iceberg.

“You need to look at a wider picture, so each term during the academic year the schools will cover different topics around safeguarding and safety.

“It’s about education and raising awareness, but also giving people the confidence to take action and make a call if they have a concern over the welfare of a child – and importantly, knowing who they should contact.”

Cllr Farley said he hopes that if the scheme – which is backed by organisations including Bradford Council, churches and the police – is a success, it will be rolled out to other parts of Keighley and the wider Bradford district.

A logo designed by a year-five pupil at Our Lady of Victories School will be used on posters and other materials promoting the project.

Tiannie Jessop won a competition to create the design.

Her entry was chosen from about 40 submitted by youngsters from the three schools.

She met the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Abid Hussain, and worked with a professional designer at Bradford Council who helped finalise the logo.

A Council spokesman said: “Tiannie’s design was the simplest and cleanest.

“Our designer also liked the idea of using a triangle, which is already associated with road warning signs.”

Cllr Farley added: “I think the logo design is great.

“This project is really important in giving people the confidence to take action and make the call if they have concerns.”