A group of young people from Whitehaven have used their design talents to help produce a special leaflet aimed at encouraging other teenagers to keep on the straight and narrow.
With the help of a unique partnership between Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, Cumbria Constabulary, Young Cumbria and the South Whitehaven Youth Partnership, more than a dozen young people (aged 12-16) from the West Coast town have designed the eye-catching leaflet to draw attention to the various forms of anti-social behaviour, its negative effect on local communities and the consequences for those committing it.
Members of the media are invited to the Fire and Rescue Service’s headquarters in Cockermouth on Friday 17 August at 2:00pm where they have the chance to talk to some of the youngsters involved in the project, who will be there to officially launch the leaflet and display some of the design work that has gone into it.
The new eye-catching leaflet will be distributed to thousands of youngsters at schools and youth drop-in facilities across West Cumbria over the coming months.
Speaking ahead of Friday's launch event, councillor Elizabeth Barraclough, cabinet member responsible for Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service, said: “These leaflets have been designed by young people, for young people. It is very important for youngsters to understand exactly what is meant by the term 'anti-social behaviour’ as it is a phrase that is often used but not always explained in terms that young people can relate to. Hopefully the new leaflet will make young people in West Cumbria more aware of how their behaviour can impact on the lives of others.”
Cumbria Constabulary's Acting Superintendent for West Cumbria, Gary Slater, said: "It is down to each and every one of us to play our part in tackling anti social behaviour. This launch is about a group of young people who are doing exactly that by taking responsibility and explaining the issues to their peers. West Cumbria police have been fortunate enough to work with this group of youngsters as part of the Constabulary's ongoing Respect campaign to address anti-social behaviour. We hope that this message written by kids for kids will have a positive impact for us all."
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Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337