National Road Safety Charity BRAKE

A law firm is opening its doors and temporarily handing over the keys to national road safety charity Brake, to help train the next generation of road safety ambassadors.

Legal experts at Irwin Mitchell's Leeds Office based on Wellington Place, is offering its facilities and refreshments to Brake for three different types of road safety advice sessions throughout March, May and June.

The scheme will see a total of 75 volunteers benefit from expert training on how to deliver powerful road safety presentations to groups of teenagers, parents and company drivers.

Training topics will include speed, drinking/drugs and the need to wear seat belts, the importance of child seats, respecting speed limits and walking safely with children and the dangers of tiredness and driver distractions.

Irwin Mitchell will also be hosting a professional development day for Brake volunteers who provide vital support for families bereaved by road crashes.

Partner and head and spinal injury expert at Irwin Mitchell Jane Horton said: "We often deal with Brake in cases related to road safety and so we gladly hand over our offices as we know how much our clients appreciate the advice and support of volunteers trained by Brake. These sessions will help make a real difference to hundreds of individuals whether it's through support after a road traffic crash or helping to prevent them.

"They will have access to our boardroom fitted with DVD and presentation facilities and we'll provide a lunch for the tutors and would-be counsellors to help make the sessions run smoothly and be of real benefit to the local community."

The number of sessions has been extended this year following a successful programme of bereavement counselling training held by Brake over three days at Irwin Mitchell last February and March.

Fiona Mortimer, General Manager from Brake added: "Road crashes cause devastation to families and local communities. We are really grateful to Irwin Mitchell for this gesture of hosting courses to train Brake Ambassadors, who will spread the road safety message in local communities. There are still a few places left so anyone interested should get in touch."

To book, call Kate on 01484 559909 or email academy@brake.org.uk