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Wolverhampton students get vital safety advice from charity founder Suzanne Richards MBE

Students at City of Wolverhampton College learnt about travel safety, building resilience against extremism and the work of the government's anti-terrorism Prevent programme, during a visit from Suzanne Richards MBE, founder of the Smile for Joel charity.

By contributor Jo Nicholls
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Suzanne, who founded the charity after the deaths of her son, father and brother in a terrorist attack in Tunisia in 2015, spoke to students enrolled on travel and uniformed public services courses at the college's Wellington Road campus, in Bilston. 

The talk covered the importance of checking advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office before travelling to a foreign destination, taking out the correct travel insurance, keeping passports and other documents safe and remaining in contact with travel companions during nights out. 

It also covered the work of the Prevent programme and how the charity supports the scheme by working with sports and educational organisations to increase public knowledge of radicalisation and build resilience to stop people being drawn into terrorism. 

Suzanne Richards MBE with students enrolled on uniformed public services courses.
Suzanne Richards MBE with students enrolled on uniformed public services courses.

Suzanne said: "It was a pleasure to speak with travel and public services students about the Prevent programme and the work we do through Smile for Joel. 

"Since losing my dad, brother, and son in Tunisia, Owen and I have been dedicated to supporting families affected by murder and sharing vital safety advice. 

"I want these students to travel and see the world, but I want them to do it with their eyes wide open by always checking travel advice before they book." 

Students doing travel and uniformed public services qualifications attended the talk.
Students doing travel and uniformed public services qualifications attended the talk.

Elliot Pearce, aged 18, who is studying for a Level 3 diploma in uniformed public services, said: "Suzanne was incredibly well informed, and hearing her personal story really brought the importance of travel safety to life. 

"She showed us that while there are always risks involved in travelling, you shouldn't let that stop you from seeing the world. 

"The biggest thing I’ve learned is the importance of being prepared and double checking all your travel information before you fly." 

Students got important travel safety advice during the talk.
Students got important travel safety advice during the talk.

For details of travel and uniformed public services courses on offer at the college go to wolvcoll.ac.uk  

For more information on the Smile for Joel charity visit smileforjoel.com