News

TEENAGERS QUIZ UN DELEGATES ON TRIP TO GENEVA

School pupils and police cadets were given the chance to put questions to a panel of delegates at the United Nations during a Kids Taskforce visit to Geneva.

Pupils from Caedmon School in Whitby and Metropolitan Police cadets told the child labour conference about their efforts to raise awareness in the UK and asked delegates what their countries were doing to involve young people in combating the problem.

The Kids Taskforce representatives, including President Sharon Doughty and Vice President Neil Evans, also took part in celebrations at the Place des Nations to mark the International Labour Organisation’s annual World Day against Child Labour on Friday 12th June.

Kids Taskforce is ILO’s UK partner in the fight against child labour and the young people received a standing ovation following presentations about the work they have done to help raise awareness in their own communities. Fifteen-year-old Bethan Gould from Wales also joined the group and showed a slide presentation she made with fellow pupils and staff at Pembroke School in Bush.
The Caedmon School pupils created a huge traditional circular artwork called a mandala depicting children’s footprints and their thoughts about child labour, which they displayed during the event.

The World Day against Child Labour aims to promote awareness and action to tackle child labour. For more information, please see http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Campaignandadvocacy/WDACL/lang--en/index.htm

Monday 10th May 2010 was a big day for Kids Taskforce

New Scotland Yard was the setting for the launch of a Kids Taskforce campaign headed by the parents of murdered London teenager Jimmy Mizen to bring the Watch Over Me personal safety drama to every secondary school in the country. Barry and Margaret Mizen were joined by Kids Taskforce President Sharon Doughty, television presenter Ben Shephard, England striker Jermain Defoe, Commander Tony Eastaugh of the Metropolitan Police plus national press and broadcast media to watch a preview of the new safety soap opera.
 
Ben and Jermain, both Kids Taskforce ambassadors, pledged to help reach every child in the UK with Kids Taskforce learning programmes that can help young people stay safe and learn how to handle risky situations.
 
Later that afternoon, Kids Taskforce was proud to assist in the organisation of a memorial service for Jimmy Mizen at Westminster Cathedral. An audience of 1500 gathered to celebrate the life of Jimmy and to join in a call for peace within our communities on the second anniversary of his murder. The service was held the day after what would have been his eighteenth birthday and was conducted by Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Richard Chartres, Bishop of London.  HRH The Prince of Wales attended the service and afterwards met members of the Mizen family and the relatives of other young people who suffered violent deaths. 

Please click the following links for reports on the day.
BBC  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8670994.stm
SKY http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Marcin-Bilaszewski-Murder-Jimmy-Mizen-Family-In-Peace-Service-As-Details-Of-Latest-Stabbing-Emerge/Article/201005215628876

Launch at Allanson Street Primary School, St.Helens, Lancashire: 21st April 2010

Three schools from the Parr area of St Helens sent a selection of pupils to meet Wizard, Cursor, Kids Taskforce staff and representatives from Merseyside Police and Fire and Rescue services.

The launch was funded by Renew Parr, its aim is to make the area a better place to live and work by improving local services and tackling quality-of-life issues.

The children had a great chance to interact with police horses and to see police dogs in action as well as have their photo taken with a fire appliance and its crew.

Kids Taskforce President, Sharon Doughty, was interviewed by the children for Allanson Street Primary's own radio station, Razz Radio, which broadcasts to the surrounding area.

The launch has helped to build many connections with all services in Merseyside, as well as many teachers and local education officials.

Events

Kids Taskforce Champion Awards, Tuesday 23rd March 2010
 
Kids Taskforce Champion Awards 2010 were held in the illustrious setting of Lancaster House. Dozens of nominations were received from across the country and it was heartening to hear of so many wonderful children who were prepared to put others first. There were several deserving adult winners too who were all invited to spent the afternoon at this amazing government palace.

Most photographed item of the day was the Premier League trophy kindly loaned to Kids Taskforce by Barclaycard.

Entertainment was provided by Drum Cafe, Nelson Mandela’s favourite drum crew, and some Strictly Come Dancing from Kids Taskforce President Sharon Doughty and her partner Rory Costain.

Later in the afternoon a celebration reception was held at the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords, where more prizes were awarded to supporters who had helped reach more young people with the missdorothy.com and Watch Over Me learning programmes. These included Children’s Minister Vernon Coaker MP, TV news reporter Nina Nannar and many of those involved in the making of Watch Over Me IV – the latest secondary school soap drama.