Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

"Missdorothy.com and Kids Taskforce and operations like that are absolutely vital to give kids the security to keep learning."

Sir Paul Ennals, Chief Executive National Children's Bureau

"NCB supports the Kids Taskforce because we know that a few simple messages help children and young people keep themselves safer. The missdorothy.com materials support schools working with partners in the community to ensure that their pupils are helped to manage risk and keep safe."

Nelson Mandela

"If everyone was imbued with the same spirit of caring as missdorothy.com the world would be a safer place for children."

Lorraine Kelly, GMTV

"I really support what Kids Taskforce are doing - I think it's absolutely brilliant to give children a sense of respect and to make them realise that they're really important and to also make sure that they take care of themselves."

Jermain Defoe, Spurs & England striker

"I support Kids Taskforce because their school learning programmes give me the opportunity to positively influence the lives of young people throughout the UK and inspire them to follow their dreams."

Sir Hugh Orde, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers

"Keeping children safe is central to the mission of the police across the UK. The Kids Taskforce school safety learning programme provides a coherent framework that enables children to engage not only with police officers but also with representatives from the fire and ambulance service, football and other community groups."

Sir Gus O'Donnell, Head of the Civil Service

"You know the needs of kids much better than we will in Whitehall so it's really important that we use your knowledge to tell us the things we should be trying to achieve. Sometimes we're spending a lot of money on things that don't really matter, if we can allocate the money and resources to things that will make the most difference then we can really transform and start producing better things."

Cherie Booth QC

"I support Kids Taskforce, because I think by bringing these issues home to young people in the way that they can understand and relate to helps them to stop and think, and so become safe."

Hexthorpe Primary School in Doncaster has used the missdorothy.com programme for six years.  Headteacher Liz Ellison says missdorothy.com is a vital part of school life and the benefits are immeasurable: “Schools are very safe places but once children cross the gate they need to manage risk. Missdorothy teaches personal safety, promotes self-esteem and raises awareness of bullying, drugs and gangs. The benefits of missdorothy are very clear – our children feel very safe and tell us this through the workbooks."

Spurs and England striker Jermain Defoe has been a Kids Taskforce ambassador since November 2009.  He and his mum Sandra, also a Kids Taskforce ambassador, have played active roles in helping young people in their home country of St Lucia as well as in the UK. He said: “Being a professional footballer means being a role model to thousands of young people, and it’s something I take very seriously.  My work with Kids Taskforce enables me to share my story and inspire young people to work hard and follow their dreams."

Margaret and Barry Mizen’s son, Jimmy, 16, was murdered by another youth in May 2008. They now partner Kids Taskforce, visiting schools and talking to parents. “We are proud to be associated with Kids Taskforce. Many young people are exposed to negative experiences and in most cases the only chance society has to help them is through the education system. Dedicated people working in schools need all the assistance they can to help vulnerable young people. Missdorothy.com is such a programme that seeks to assist," said Barry. www.jimmymizen.org

Kids Taskforce is the British partner of European-funded Values vs Violence (Triple-v) project, which aims to raise awareness of values such as fairness and tolerance among 40,000 young people in Europe. KTF’s Triple-v activity manager John Hoey said: “We are proud to be working closely with secondary schools in England and Scotland, Doncaster Prison Young Offenders’ Institute and London’s Metropolitan Police to deliver the project’s valuable aims via street football and theatre, social website videos and value communicators." www.triple-v.org

The Watch Over Me secondary school programme is also reaching youngsters who, because of health needs, attend the world’s largest hospital school. Debbie Davies, PSHE and Citizenship Co-ordinator at James Brindley School in Birmingham, said the response from pupils who have viewed the personal safety drama has been very positive: “The pupils relate well to the characters and excellent discussions have followed.  The materials are accessible to youngsters and raise relevant and topical issues for them in a safe way."

The Mayor’s Fund for London aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and their families. Kids Taskforce is its education partner and more than 5,000 primary school pupils in the capital use the missdorothy.com programme. One teacher, Madeleine Hancock, of English Martyrs School in Tower Hamlets, spoke of the children’s enthusiasm for the programme and its vast benefits for one particular young boy: “It feels as though he has been set free. He has earned admiration from his classmates, become more confident in discussions and more willing to listen to others."  www.mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk

Merseyside Police deliver the missdorothy.com programme to almost 6,000 schoolchildren through officers and local football coaches. Insp. Colin Lewis of the Youth Engagement Unit said of the project’s value for both professionals and youngsters: “Missdorothy gives us the opportunity to develop children’s safety and well-being as they grow up, while educating the teacher, police officer or football coach in the variety of risks existing for children. On Merseyside we use the best products we can - that is why we have used missdorothy for so long."

Award-winning professional dancer Kristina Rihanoff is working with Kids Taskforce to create a dance programme that she hopes will be used in schools nationwide. She has already inspired many youngsters by visiting several London schools to put pupils through their paces. Of her project with Kids Taskforce, Kristina says: “Sport isn’t for everyone so why can’t schools use dance too? It involves a huge amount of commitment and discipline and it’s a great way to keep fit. It also helps pupils interact with each other and work together."