Shell show support to School Crossing Patrollers
08 May 2018
Aberdeen City Council is working with Shell to celebrate School Crossing Patrollers and encourage more people into the role.
The City Council has recently partnered up with Shell UK to highlight the role of the School Crossing Patroller. Officials at the energy company recognise the valuable job School Crossing Patrollers do and today (8 May) held a luncheon to thank them for all of their hard work.
In addition to the lunch Shell have shown their support for School Crossing Patrollers by sponsoring their winter and summer jackets which communicates a message “Thank You for Your Patience” to drivers whilst children are crossing.
The Council currently has 71 crossing points across the city and employ 34 School Crossing Patrollers. Although efforts are regularly made to recruit crossing patrollers, the post has been notoriously difficult to fill.
Work has previously been done with school pupils designing recruitment posters and leaflets sent home with school children to encourage family members to apply for the posts. Presently there are recruitment boards sited within a number of schools across the city along with an open advert on the Council’s website advertising vacant posts.
Aberdeen City Council Convener of Operational Delivery and spokesperson for Education, Councillor John Wheeler said: "The role of the School Crossing Patroller is very important, and we should do everything we can to help fill these posts.
“Over the years the Council has undertaken many initiatives outside of standard recruitment processes to try and encourage the number of applications we receive for these posts. I am pleased to say that since the beginning of the year we have successfully filled seven School Crossing Patroller posts with some more currently in the recruitment process, however we still have some way to go.
“I was delighted to hear about the partnership work with Shell and the efforts being made to highlight the fantastic job our team of lollipop men and women do.
"I would encourage anyone with an interest in becoming a school crossing patroller to contact the council to find out more about the job."
Asha Luthra from Shell stated, “Safety is Shell’s top priority. We are grateful for the role that school crossing patrollers play every day in our community.
“When we learned of a shortage of school crossing patrollers in Aberdeen, we wanted to partner with Aberdeen City Council to help raise awareness of this important role within the community.
“The patrollers are outside every school day keeping the school children of Aberdeen safe even during inclement weather. We hope that others will be inspired by their commitment and step forward to serve.”
School Crossing Patrollers are well respected members of the communities in which they serve and are seen as vital by the parents of our school pupils. They help children (and anyone else who might be crossing) get to school and across the road safely.
Whilst the stereotype of a School Crossing Patroller is an older person, this role is suitable for people of any age. The job can sometimes be challenging as Patrollers are out in all weathers to keep pupils safe. The position involves working split shifts – of between 35 mins and one hour in the morning and between 35 mins and one hour in the afternoon.
Vacancies are available citywide. For more information please call either Alan Brodie (Janitorial Team Leader) on 07801129496 or John Lyon (Janitorial Team Leader) 07801129495 or alternatively click on the "view current jobs" link on the Aberdeen City Council website at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk