A SPECIALIST centre set up to allow fully interactive safety and life skills training for young people has been given a funding lifeline, following fears it was to close due to budgetary pressures.
Based in Belfast, Risk Avoidance and Danger Awareness Resource (RADAR) is the only centre of its kind in Ireland, providing workshops for schools and community groups.
The centre provides fire safety, water safety, bus and road safety, train safety, personal safety, electrical safety and farm safety for young people.
The PSNI who oversees the running of the centre, had said in August that funding was no longer available and RADAR would have to close at the end of the year.
However, Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said yesterday: "Over the past number of months we have been working closely with our colleagues in the Department of Justice and the Department of Finance and others, and I am pleased to say that we have secured both funding and lease arrangements for a further 12-months which will in turn allow us time to develop a sustainable future for the centre.
"I have met with the staff of the centre and advised them of this development.
ACC Todd also thanked those "who have worked to make announcement possible" adding that he was looking forward to continuing to work "to secure the future of this wonderful and valuable facility".
"The RADAR centre remains open for business and we are taking bookings for 2019", he added.
