West Mercia Local Resilience Forum
Creating the UK's first Community Risk Register for children
West Mercia LRF wanted a better way to communicate serious risks and safety messages to children. Together, we created what they believe is the UK's first Community Risk Register designed specifically for children.
The Challenge
How do you communicate community risk to children?
Local Resilience Forums help communities understand and prepare for risk.
But West Mercia LRF identified an audience they weren't reaching: children.
Community Risk Registers are built to inform adults - not younger members of the community in an age-appropriate way.
The team at West Mercia LRF wanted to introduce the serious subject of hazards without frightening children, giving practical information to help them understand risks and know what to do.
We recognised that this is a gap - how do we present risk information in an age-appropriate way to younger members of our community, so that they are taught about risk in a positive and interactive way?
The Solution
Turning a Community Risk Register into an adventure
Together, we transformed West Mercia's Community Risk Register into a printed, illustrated maze adventure.
Children guide Ready Rhino through a map of West Mercia, encountering hazards including flooding, fires, extreme weather and water safety along the way. To progress, they have to identify the right safety advice for each risk.
The adventure then continues online, where children can test what they've learned and earn a Mini Ready Rhino certificate.
Ready Rhino
Worcestershire's community resilience mascot - the friendly guide children follow through the maze from start to finish.
Risks made friendly
Risks are illustrated along the map in a way that will engage but not frighten children. They must find the solution to each risk before progressing.
Safety message
Age-appropriate safety messages are included on the back of the map to give practical, positive guidance. Kids must link the guidance with the hazard to complete the map.
The reverse
The flip side of the map - the activity guide, safety cards and the link to the follow-on quiz and certificate.
The Results
12,000 maps - and demand for more
"The map has been going down exceptionally well. We've been distributing initially via community engagement events being done by partner agencies, which has had a really positive impact. It's been really valuable and a brilliant resource.
"Feedback from parents and agencies has been very positive, especially agencies that otherwise have nothing to hand out to kids."
Distribution partners include:
Hear from West Mercia
Why West Mercia believes the approach works
Hear Nathan and Kay explain why West Mercia wanted to engage children with community risk, how the project developed and the response from partners.
ENGAGE CHILDREN
Turn serious risk information into an activity children want to complete.
UNIFY PARTNER MESSAGING
Bring approved safety messages from multiple LRF partners into one resource.
MEASURE ENGAGEMENT
The follow-on quiz provides a way to monitor engagement.
Beyond the map
Reach parents through their children
The project does more than engage children. A QR code on the map directs parents and carers to the adult Community Risk Register - so while a child works the maze, the resource also introduces parents to information they might otherwise never encounter.
The online quiz gives West Mercia a way to monitor engagement, and children who complete the activity can earn their Mini Ready Rhino certificate.
Through children, we're also increasing the resilience of the adults in our patch by pointing them to a document that otherwise tends to be hidden away on official websites.Dr Nathan Hazlehurst — Head of Emergency Planning, Worcestershire County Council
The Process
No blueprint. A genuinely collaborative process.
There was no existing blueprint for a children's Community Risk Register, so it evolved collaboratively. A maze idea grew into a wider engagement package: navigation was refined, letters to collect were added, safety messaging was developed, and a follow-on quiz and certificate were created.
West Mercia brought emergency planning expertise, local knowledge and partner messaging. Treasure Map Trails brought experience turning places and information into illustrated activities for children.
Collaborative is the best word. It felt really respectful. It felt exciting. You took our ideas and, quite frankly, you made them better than we could imagine.
The Client Verdict
“It's turned into something better than we could have imagined.”
It's such a beautiful product and it's got so much value. We couldn't have done that ourselves.
We always seem to have forgotten that kids are part of our population too. If you're considering a trail map, definitely speak to Treasure Map Trails – we've tested this as a system and tested this as a process.
For Local Resilience Forums
Could your Community Risk Register engage children too?
West Mercia has now tested the approach. We can adapt the approach for other Local Resilience Forum areas, combining your priority risks, approved safety messages, local landmarks and partner input into an illustrated activity children will actually want to pick up, explore and complete.
Want to see exactly what West Mercia created?
We'll send you a printed copy of the children's Community Risk Register to explore for yourself. No obligation and no sales call required.
Want to talk about the idea first?
If you're exploring ways to engage children and families with community resilience, we'd be happy to talk through what West Mercia did and whether a similar approach could work for your area.
Get in touch