Social World Podcast: In conversation with Christina Gabbitas

Christina Gabbitas http://www.christinagabbitas.com is an award-winning children’s author who has encouraged over 25,000 children nationally with an annual poetry initiative, giving her a Dame Beryl Bainbridge award in 2015 for her work and Sue Ryder Education Award in 2016. Founder and Trustee of Children’s Literature Festivals http://www.childrensliteraturefestivals.com whose mission is to give children from all backgrounds, cultures and abilities an equal opportunity of having access to books to realise the power of reading not just educationally but socially and emotionally too.Christina received a Mayoral Award for Services to Children’s Literature and Child Protection, and was made an Honorary Member of the NSPCC Council for the work that she has undertaken in safeguarding children. Christina’s book Share Some Secrets was awarded a national book prize in 2019, and the publication is now encouraging children to speak out and being recognised globally. The animation resource and publication is being utilised in some PCC’s child exploitation toolkits.

A recent work was with the Police & Crime Commissioners Office in Humberside where she produced a story to help educate children on the dangers of being groomed into County Lines and being involved with knife crime. http://www.nomoreknifecrime.com The partnership also included a writing initiative with children aged 10+

Her latest book–out on the 4th March ( World Book Day ) is http://www.monahlot.com focusing on a seven year old girl who complains a lot until she is understood better and responds to kindness.

We also talk about the poetry competition for children she organised to help them express their feelings about Lockdown. Called Lockdown Lives . I was very pleased to be one of the judges in what turned out to be an extremely successful project.

Testimonial from Ali Jeremy Director of Communications at NSPCC: “Christina deserves the highest level of recognition from the NSPCC for her dedication and unstinting enthusiasm. She is a wonderful lady who is passionate about safeguarding whilst conveying a love of reading which can open up so many new worlds for our children”

Robert Ruston – Victims and Vulnerable People Lead for PCC Lancashire

Share Some Secrets book and online animation is an excellent addition to our NEST Lancashire Toolkit. Providing suitable resources that younger children can use on their own as well as with teachers, carers and parents is an area of resources that we need to grow and develop and Christina’s resource is a very useful start.”