Over 1700 Primary 7 Pupils Attend BeeSafe Event

Released: 10 March 2026

Over 1700  Primary 7 Pupils Attend BeeSafe Event

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, visited Ards Arena Youth Resource Centre at the end of a two-week BeeSafe educational programme that hosted over 1700 pupils and more than 44 schools from across the Borough.

Funded by Ards and North Down Borough Council as well as Ards and North Down Police and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), BeeSafe is aimed at Primary 7 children who are preparing for their transition out of primary school.

The programme is designed to promote community and personal safety while also reducing anti-social behaviour within the Borough. Topics covered included bus safety, fire safety, home safety, internet safety, anti-social behaviour and mental health.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, said:

"This is an exciting time for all Year 7 students as they near the end of primary school and get ready to move to the next stage in their academic paths. It was great to see so many of them benefitting from this year's programme which has helped to equip and prepare them for the transition. I hope they all enjoyed the programme and wish them especially well for the next few months ahead."

The Chair of Ards and North Down PCSP, Councillor Pete Wray, said:

"BeeSafe is a multi‑agency initiative aimed at Primary 7 children, designed to promote both community and personal safety while helping to reduce anti‑social behaviour, crime, and the fear of crime across the Borough. Primary 7 is widely recognised as a crucial stage to engage with young people—an age when they are receptive to new ideas, able to understand key safety messages, and more likely to put this learning into practice. This is particularly important as they transition into secondary school, where they may encounter new risks for the first time. We are pleased to support such a valuable and impactful programme."