155 Trapped in County Lines. Christina Gabbitas

In this episode I speak to award-winning children’s author, Christina Gabbitas, about her book ‘Trapped in County Lines’. This is a follow up book to ‘No More Knives or County Lines’. We discuss why books like this are important in how we educate young people and their parents about issues like county lines. Christina shares the work she does with her book alongside the police and in schools and speaks of the power of storytelling around these difficult topics. We also talk about her poetry competition launching on 1st March 2024. About Christina:Christina Gabbitas is an award-winning children’s author, Honorary Member of the NSPCC Council, Coronation Champion, and founder of the Children Literature Festivals charity, who was recently awarded a Prime Ministers Points of Light Award. Her impactful writing commissions include collaborations with organisations such as Humberside Police & Crime Commissioners Office, amongst other organisations and charities. Notably, her recent work, “Trapped In County Lines,” commissioned by North Yorkshire Police and the North Yorkshire Fire & Crime Commissioners Office, reflects her dedication to educating children and young people about the signs of exploitation. Christina actively partners with various Police Forces, contributing to her transformative impact on children’s literature and safety education. Christina has visited over 180 schools delivering early intervention sessions with her work surrounding county lines. Christina’s safeguarding stories are in the NSPCC Library, and she is currently liaising with Childline about online content surrounding county lines. Trapped in County Lines was book of the week at the NSPCC in October.www.trappedincountylines.co.ukwww.nomoreknifecrime.co.uk Schools Feedback.  Check what’s been said.https://www.benthamcpschool.org.uk/news/2022/no-more-knives-or-county-lineshttps://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/harrogate-yorkshire-dales/news/no-more-knives-or-county-lines-primary-school-christina-gabbitas-author/https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19662948.author-christina-gabbitas-backs-police-county-lines-scheme/https://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/news/north-yorkshire/news/news/2021/october/police-and-childrens-author-work-together-to-deliver-a-key-message-on-the-dangers-of-county-lines-drug-dealing/ Children perspective https://www.nomoreknifecrime.co.uk/humberside-police/ Animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXNVQ4VcBts