Sponsor a school initiative funds allergy training for Bradford on Avon school 

Christ Church CE Primary school in Bradford on Avon has become the latest UK school to achieve AllergyWise® accreditation showing a dedication to keeping children with allergies safe. 

Staff at the school have participated in AllergyWise® training to improve their knowledge and understanding of allergies and anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition. The training for staff and assemblies for students were provided by Tracey Dunn, Education and Training Manager at Anaphylaxis UK, a UK wide charity supporting people at risk of serious allergic reactions. 

As a result, the entire school community is now better prepared to respond in an emergency and most importantly, put preventative measures in place. Staff welcomed the face-to-face training which provided opportunities for discussion about practical issues that face the school. Tracey was able to support staff using her knowledge and experience of leading allergy aware schools and her personal experience as a parent of children with allergies.   

Christ Church identified further actions to enhance the safety of students with allergies and how to implement these.  The school is now working towards achieving Anaphylaxis UK’s AllergyWise® Allergy Aware school award, joining Fitzmaurice and Westwood with Iford Primary schools.  

Feedback from the school was overwhelmingly positive. One staff member said: “Just wanted to say how useful and informative the training was today. Even as a parent of a child with an allergy, I learned lots. Tracey was very clear and put allergies into context. It really raised my awareness of signs and symptoms in young children.”  

A parent of a pupil at the school shared: “Thank you for organising this. As the parent of a child with a nut allergy, it’s really reassuring to know you’re educating all the children about allergies.”  

This training was made possible through the support of the Bradford on Avon Lions Club under Anaphylaxis UK’s Sponsor a school initiative. The Lions supported the purchase of a spare adrenaline auto-injector.  This is in line with the “Guidance on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors in schools”.  With 20% of allergic reactions happening at school and 17-18% of these happening in students with no prior history of allergy, it is vital that schools have access to this life saving medication.   

Simon Williams, Chief Executive said: “It is wonderful that Bradford on Avon is a safer place for students with allergies to attend school because of the face-to-face AllergyWise ® training the staff have undertaken.  We are grateful to the Lions for enabling Christ Church CE Primary School to be trained under our Sponsor a school initiative.”    

For more information about the Sponsor a School initiative and Anaphylaxis UK’s training programmes please visit AllergyWise® for Schools or contact allergywise@anaphylaxis.org.uk.  

Anaphylaxis UK have a comprehensive Safer Schools Programme that supports all phases of education in creating safer learning environments for students.  In addition to the extensive information found on the website, there are free downloadable resources, including risk assessments, links to legislation and a free allergy policy.   

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Notes for Editors 

For enquiries and to arrange an interview with Tracey, please contact press@anaphylaxis.org.uk. 

Anaphylaxis UK is the only UK-wide charity operating solely for the growing numbers of people at risk of serious allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. While there’s no treatment or cure for anaphylaxis, we believe that by providing information, training and support, there is a brighter future for people living with serious allergies. 

Anaphylaxis is a serious and often sudden allergic reaction. It can occur when someone with allergies is exposed to something they are allergic to. Reactions usually take place within minutes and rapidly progress but can occur up to 2-3 hours later. It is potentially life-threatening and always requires an immediate emergency response.