OVER the past week, from Wednesday 11 March to Wednesday 18 March, Year 6 students from across Harlow took part in Crucial Crew—an annual multi‑agency safety initiative designed to prepare young people for the transition to secondary school.

This year’s event brought together several key partner organisations, including Essex Police, Harlow Council, Changing Pathways, and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, each delivering engaging and practical sessions focused on helping children stay safe, make informed choices, and build confidence as they move into their teenage years.

Throughout the week, students rotated through a series of interactive workshops covering a range of important topics like online safety, county lines and better relationships to name a few.

Crucial Crew continues to be a vital part of Harlow’s preventative education work. By bringing agencies together in one place, students are given consistent, realistic and empowering messages that help them navigate new challenges with resilience and awareness.

The partnership working throughout the week reflects a strong commitment to safeguarding the borough’s young people and equipping them with the tools they need to stay safe both now and as they progress into secondary school and beyond.