Press release

Lesson No.1: Staying Alive

19 Sep 2008

A new TV channel is being unveiled in Birmingham schools, with special lessons on how to avoid being a victim of gun and knife crime.
(By Tony Collins of the Birmingham Mail)

The Life Channel mirrors the screens which are a regular feature of doctors' waiting rooms. The messages for school children focus instead on how to stay safe and healthy. The schools version of The Life Channel was launched by Tony Blair, then Prime Minister, in February 2007.

It has since been rolled out in a handful of areas across the country, including Co Durham, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire, and has now reached Birmingham, with several schools having signed up to the pioneering service. It is due to be launched by Sparkbrook and Small Heath's Labour MP, Roger Godsiff, at Arden Primary School, Sparkhill, on September 19.

Angela Dawson, schools coordinator at The Life Channel, said: "About eight local schools and Sure Start centres have already committed to this and are very positive that the installation of the satellite channel can help deliver and reinforce messages to the children and young people of Birmingham, particularly on issues such as health and well being, bullying, gun and knife crime. "Schools can also upload programmes to the channel which they have produced themselves, which enables them to individualise the channel and showcase the talents and successes of the students."

She said it was hoped that many more Birmingham schools would sign up to the new TV channel, with head teachers able to subscribe to either the primary, secondary or tertiary colleges service. The Life Channel originally started out as a health project six years ago, broadcasting in Primary Care Trust institutions including GP surgeries and health centres across the UK.

Birmingham schools signing up to The Life Channel include Frankley Community High, St Patrick's Catholic Primary, in Ladywood, Mansfield Green Primary, in Aston, Cromwell Junior and Infants, in Nechells, Castle Vale Nursery, Bournville Junior, Kitts Green Sure Start and Tame Valley Children's Centre, Bromford.