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An innovative educational project developed by Crucial Interactive Media together with Safer York Partnership has been commended by government officials, and is being promoted to teachers as a national resource for promoting safety messages to children.

Crucial Crew Interactive, which exists as a CD-Rom and internet-based resource, teaches children how to stay alive or help their friends in a variety of dangerous scenarios, while playing a fun computer game.

And the Department for Education and Skills, having reviewed the project, has now featured Crucial Crew Interactive on its website, which is used by teachers nationwide.

Audrey Ajoku, who works on the government''s Personal, Social and Health Education team, described the resource as "easy to navigate" and "a nice model for others to follow".

James Houston of Crucial Interactive Media, the business which pioneered Crucial Crew Interactive, said: "It''s great to get national recognition and official rubber stamping for the work we''ve done here in York. The project is a very exciting one, as it combines innovative technology with a very useful social function. We hope Crucial Crew Interactive will become even more widely used by schoolchildren as a result."

Crucial Crew Interactive was developed with support from Safer York Partnership, Creation Network, and Yorkshire Forward.

PC Jon Palmer, of Safer York Partnership, said: "Over the last 12 months, since launching the Crucial Crew Interactive website and Cd-Rom, we''ve seen it become a significant aid to teachers in the York and Selby area - reinforcing the messages which children learn at the Crucial Crew workshops. I''m delighted the project has been given this recognition, and that the resource will be used throughout the country."

The resource has recently been added to with a railways dangers scenario commissioned by National Rail, where children have to avoid being run over by trains or electrocuted while around the railways.

A prototype video game version of Crucial Crew Interactive is also being developed by games specialists Revolution Software in partnership with Crucial Interactive Media. This includes full 3-D animation and gameplay.

"Creation is pleased to have been able to support the development of the Crucial Crew project," said Mark Fordyce, a director of Creation Network. "This well-deserved recognition is a great example of what can be achieved when Creation members work together. The ingenuity and quality of this project has once again put York''s multimedia talent on the national stage."

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. Crucial Crew website: www.crucial-crew.org

2. PSHE website: www.teachernet.gov.uk/pshe

3. Scenarios completed to date include: • A road traffic accident • A party where drink and drugs are available • A gas leak at home • A bedroom fire • A multiple choice quiz • Railway dangers

Contacts:

James Houston, Crucial Interactive Media: 0870 608 0092 james@crucial-media.net

PC Jon Palmer, Safer York Partnership: 07767 415056 jon.palmer@york.gov.uk

Audrey Ajoku, PSHE team, Department for Education and Skills: 0207 2735091 audrey.ajoku@dfes.gsi.gov.uk