Woman Scoops Top National Campaigning Award for Work with Hillingdon Youngsters

Campaigner Lea Misan has just won a major national campaigning award for her charity’s work with youth groups and schools, including an innovative youth programme in Hillingdon’s Chantry Special Needs College, sponsored by the Hillingdon police force charity.

Lea was presented with the Shelia McKechnie Award for Conflict Resolution last Wednesday (17th September) at ceremony at St Martins-in the-Fields hosted by Channel 4 newscaster Jon Snow, Shami Chakrabati Director of Liberty and Terry Waite, CBE. Next month she will meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown at an event in Downing Street.

Lea is campaigning to educate young people in social action. Act for Change provides the tools to educate and interrupt hate-related crime through schools-based workshops. Lea aims to increase awareness amongst 11-19 year olds about their rights and responsibilities, in order to resolve potential conflicts creatively. To date, over 5,000 students have been through this programme. Those schools which have used the programme report a subsequent reduction in bullying and racism and a rise in academic achievement, self-respect and a willingness to engage with the wider community.

Says Lea: “I was amazed and delighted when I won this award. It gives us the opportunity to recommit and re-dedicate our efforts engaging young people in defining markers for social responsibility.”

Linda Butcher, Chief Executive of the SMK Foundation added. “Many people feel jaded about democracy in terms of what they see as the compromises that take place and Government, and are concerned at wider apathy across society. However, our award winners are tenacious, positive and creative individuals who prove that ordinary people do extraordinary things. They demonstrate that while there are wrongs, abuses and injustices there are individuals and communities working tirelessly to do something about them.”

News and Events

 

Donations welcome
This is facilitated through on-line shopping at various outlets at no cost to yourself, to support us click here.

Newsletter launch issue:
Download now (pdf 1MB)

Hot off the press:
Newsletter spring issue
Download now (pdf 149KB)

Newsletter summer issue
Download now (pdf 157KB)

AFC Forum 2009
Download now (pdf 130KB)