Joanne Binns from Swarcliffe, has turned her life around and is now piloting a course for parents to teach them about the what they can do to prevent their children becoming involved in anti social behaviour (ASB).
Joanne wanted to make parents aware of what some children can be like, and the terror they can cause, after suffering for 12 months from youths targeting her and her family. She is working with the Leeds Antisocial Behaviour Team to use a video they produced about how parents can influence the behaviour of their children as part of a session with a group of parents at Swarcliffe Primary school.
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All media are invited to the pilot session which Joanne will present to a group of parents at 10am on Monday 21st May at Swarcliffe Primary school. Joanne will be available for interview after the session, as will some of the parents and the headteacher of the school. Please call the press office on 01132474450 to arrange attendance.
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Joanne, who used to live in East End Park was targeted as she tried to build bridges between the local community and the police. She, and her children had stones thrown at them, parts of their garden set alight, and she was punched in the stomach when she was eight months pregnant. Her children suffered through threatening texts and being bullied in the street, to the point they no longer wanted to go outside. To top it all, they unfortunately lost the dad during this time.
It took a lot of hard work, but eventually Joanne was moved from East End Park, and since the new Leeds Antisocial Behaviour team has been launched, there has been a marked improvement to the response to ASB through the joint working of partners such as the police and local authority.
Joanne said:
“It was an extremely tough time, and I am so pleased that I am now able to work with the Leeds Antisocial Behaviour team to help other victims, and also try to get the message across to parents about how they can help.
“The new ASB service, which links many partner agencies , has made reporting ASB a lot easier, and I now have excellent links with my community and the team to work with anyone who is suffering or involved with this kind of behaviour.
“One of my key areas of work is my charity – Forgotten Childrens Foundation which is run for all the kids out there who are doing something positive – they need to be rewarded, and this is my way of doing that.
“I wanted to broaden the work I have been doing, and talking to parents to make them realise what they can do to help their children is a really positive step forward and should help in the fight against ASB.”
Councillor Peter Gruen, Leeds City Council executive board member with responsibility for community safety and chair of Safer Leeds said:
“It is excellent to see Joanne doing so well now, and giving back to the local community after the ordeal she went through.
“It is great to have a community champion like Joanne, who is happy to work with the local authority to bring about positive results.
“It is good to see the marked difference the new Leeds Anti Social Behaviour Team is making. The team was formed over 12 months ago when we realised that a more joined up approach between, police ALMOs and other agencies would make reporting and dealing with ASB a lot easier.”
For more information about the work Joanne is involved in, visit www.freewebs.com/theforgottenchidlrensfoundation/
Notes to editors:
Joanne is a real community champion in her local area, and has been the recipient of a number of awards for her community work over the years, including the Respect Award, Jane Tomlinson Women of Achievement Award and a Reader’s Digest hero of the month award, Yorkshire Women of Achievement overall winner.
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For media enquiries, please contact;
Cat Milburn, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 247 4450
Email: Catherine.milburn@leeds.gov.uk
