Wightlink have teamed up with Hampshire Constabulary to support an initiative to increase awareness among young people on the Isle of Wight of the dangers of being drawn into County Lines drug gangs and other criminal activities.
The ferry company provided cross-Solent travel for Dean Coady OBE (pictured right) of Urban Pure Solutions.
He held several workshops for teenagers, supporting them to address some of the risks they may face in their communities and to have the confidence and ability to make good choices and withdraw from damaging situations.
Pegler: Dean’s training sessions will have a lasting impact
Superintendent Jim Pegler, District Commander for policing on the Isle of Wight, says,
“The Isle of Wight is a very safe place to live, visit and work, but we recognise the challenges faced by vulnerable young people, and the fact that there are unfortunately a minority of individuals in our communities who seek to exploit them.
“I welcome Dean’s support and advice and know his training sessions will have a lasting impact.”
Greenfield: Dean’s passionate about engaging with vulnerable individuals
Wightlink Executive, Keith Greenfield, says,
“We were happy to help these workshops to go ahead through providing travel for Dean.
“He speaks from personal experience in the army and police force, is passionate about engaging with vulnerable individuals and has been awarded an OBE for his work.”
Coady: Worth it to help even one person
Dean Coady adds,
“It’s easy for young people to get involved in crime, but not so easy to extract themselves from dangerous situations.
“If I’ve helped one individual to turn away from drugs or carry a knife, then these sessions have been worthwhile.”
Organised by Community Action Isle of Wight
The workshops were arranged by Julian Wadsworth, a community resilience co-ordinator at Community Action Isle of Wight.
Earlier this year he put on boxing, boxercise and self-defence classes at The Heights in Sandown for local young people with money from the National Lottery’s Energise Me fund, in the latest in a series of projects.
News shared by Karen on behalf of Wightlink. Ed
Image: Amir Hosseini under CC BY 2.0
