A class at Cronk y Berry School became the first ever winners of a new trophy after helping to design a logo for Crucial Crew week.

Crucial Crew, now in its 32nd year, involves primary school pupils from across the Island attending Isle of Man College to see a series of presentations to deliver serious messages about safety, but in a fun way. The week long event took place in June, and this year pupils were challenged to design a logo to be used on posters and other publicity materials to promote next year’s event.

Elizabeth Shooter, a pupil in Class 6P at Cronk y Berry, produced the design which was chosen by a Crucial Crew panel made up of representatives from organisations which give presentations. That means Class 6P win the new trophy, and she and all Elizabeth’s classmates won ?5 top-up vouchers from Manx Telecom – the company gave presentations at Crucial Crew showing children how they can stay safe whilst online, and encouraging them to use the internet and mobiles safely and responsibly. All of the pupils who attended Crucial Crew received Manx Telecom goodie bags. Also giving presentations this year were Isle of Man Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Service, Coastguard, Manx Utilities, Manx Gas, Red Cross, Manx Sport and Recreation, and the Department of Infrastructure’s Road Safety Unit. Bus Vannin provided free transport for pupils travelling from their schools to Isle of Man College.

Sergeant Wendy Barker, of Isle of Man Constabulary, is a member of Crucial Crew’s organising committee and commented:

“Crucial Crew continues to be an important initiative in helping children learn important life skills and help them stay safe. Over the years there have been many examples of children using the skills they learn in real-life situations. The logo competition was an additional way of encouraging children to think about why Crucial Crew is so important, and the judging panel were all very impressed with the standard of entries. On behalf of the Crucial Crew committee I would like to thank all of the organisations which continue to support the event, all of the children and school staff who attended, and congratulate Elizabeth and her classmates for winning the trophy.”

The name of Class 6P at Cronk y Berry will be engraved on the trophy and future competition winners added each year. 

Photo -  Cronk y Berry pupil Elizabeth Shooter with her winning design and the Crucial Crew trophy won by her 6P class. Left to right are Sgt Wendy Barker, Cronk y Berry class 6P teacher Lesley Palmer, Manx Telecom Training and Development Co-ordinator Malcolm Lewis, and PC Mike Griffiths. Malcolm Lewis presented Elizabeth and her classmates with Manx Telecom ?5 top-up vouchers.