Salford schools to lead the way in new £100 prize road safety campaign

A new road safety initiative using theatre, workshops and a school-led competition is set to launch this autumn in Salford, thanks to funding secured by the city council.

Salford City Council has been awarded funding from Safer Roads Greater Manchester to deliver a targeted education project aimed at reducing child road casualties in identified hotspot areas across the borough. The scheme will use creative theatre performances, peer-led campaigns and interactive workshops to engage pupils and raise awareness around road dangers.

Working in partnership with The Riot Act, a theatre-in-education group that reaches over 15,000 pupils a year, the initiative will focus on the most affected neighbourhoods for child pedestrians killed or seriously injured (KSI), based on recent collision analysis by Salford’s collision investigation team.

Neighbourhoods targeted include:

• East Salford

• The Quays, Ordsall, Pendleton and Charlestown

• Cadishead and Lower Irlam, Higher Irlam and Peel Green

• Eccles, Barton and Winton

Up to 22 schools within these areas will each receive visits from The Riot Act, whose performances focus on pedestrian safety, mobile phone use near roads, peer pressure, and awareness around E-scooters, bikes and other vehicles.

Following the performances, small pupil groups will be supported to brainstorm their own road safety campaigns. Each winning team will receive £100 to develop their campaign further with help from the Road Safety Team and The Riot Act team, who will return for dedicated workshops.

Ten schools will then be selected for a final 'Dragons’ Den'-style pitch event, where one team will be crowned Salford Road Safety Champion 2025.

Councillor Mike McCusker, Salford’s Lead Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development, said the city was proud to be the only local authority in Greater Manchester to receive funding for this kind of programme.

“This is a fantastic project that will help highlight key issues around road safety to young people in Salford. As we work towards becoming a Child Friendly City, initiatives like this are a powerful way to make our roads safer while giving young people a voice and creative platform,” he said.

The project forms part of Salford’s wider commitment to Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2040.