A colourful collaboration to bring power cut safety and storytelling to life!
The team at Colour Heroes collaborated with Northern Powergrid to create a new, inclusive Power Cut Activity Book to explain why the lights may go out, and how everyone can be better prepared and stay safe.
At Colour Heroes storytelling adventures are our speciality, creating learning-focused content with hand-drawn and colourful child-centred illustrations to connect with a family audience. The team at Colour Heroes worked closely with Northern Powergrid to develop a story that delved into the reasons why temporary power cuts may happen; whether it’s stormy weather damaging poles and wires, trees falling on overhead power lines, or because Northern Powergrid is carrying out investment work to reinforce the network and improve the supply.
The book’s feature character centres around ‘Andy’ who explains everything there is to know about electricity including:
the first pioneers of electricity
how electricity is generated and distributed
how to stay safe with electricity around the home
playing outdoors safely
what happens during a power cut and how Northern Powergrid responds to support customers.
Real-life Andy Emmott, Northern Powergrid’s North Yorkshire-based Proactive Customer Responder, was thrilled to feature as the main character in the activity book which uses engaging illustrations to explain and aid children’s understanding ahead of any planned or unplanned power cuts.
The fifty-six-year-old former police sergeant, who has worked at Northern Powergrid for four years, is a local superhero ‘character’ in his own right having previously donated a kidney to an eleven-year-old child.
Andy explained: “As a Proactive Customer Responder my job is to go out into the local community and provide additional help to customers during a power cut.
“Our Customer Support Vehicles are equipped with kettles, a microwave, battery packs, and contain items such as power banks, torches, and winter warmer packs to help customers while engineers work to restore their power.
“While I’m visiting communities, I also provide extra advice to customers on how to be prepared, including creating an emergency grab bag with items like a blanket, tinned food, torch, water, a wind-up radio, and spare medication.
“I naturally enjoy helping people and making a difference – some could say making a life-saving difference – so I didn’t hesitate to put my name and face to the book to help children stay safe.”
Nigel Keys, Northern Powergrid’s Customer Vulnerability Lead added: “Power cuts can happen at any time of the year, which is why we like to help families be ready just in case the lights go out.
“With the help of Andy and the Colour Heroes team, getting ready for a power cut has become a fun adventure for children! The book is packed with activities to keep hands and minds busy if phones, tablets, or other devices run out of battery during a power cut.
“We encourage parents and carers to download and print a copy from our website and pop it in their grab bag, so it’s ready for a screen-free adventure whenever it’s needed.”
For children’s elderly relatives, or family members who may need extra support during a power cut, the book also provides information to encourage them to sign up to Northern Powergrid’s free Priority Service Membership.
The free scheme offers tailored support, such as extra communication updates, welfare visits, hot meals, and practical help like portable generators and battery packs to anyone who:
uses medical equipment powered by electricity
is of pensionable age
has young children aged 5 and under
has a visual or hearing impairment
lives with a serious illness, mobility issue, or mental health condition
needs extra help with communication.
Lorraine Bentley, Managing Director of Colour Heroes said: “We are delighted to work with Northern Powergrid to create a bespoke, educational resource to explain power cut preparedness and electricity safety to children in an age-appropriate way.
“Our team thoroughly enjoyed featuring and working with Andy, a real-life hero and Proactive Customer Responder in the storytelling, showcasing his role in the community supporting customers and helping children understand and know what to expect if the lights go out.
“The bespoke, hand-drawn resource is perfect for parents and carers to use, not only during the school holiday period, but all year round.”