COMPETITION - PEN A POEM OR WRITE A SONG
CALLING ALL YOUNG PEOPLE 12-21!
Multi Award-Winning Author and Honorary Member of the NSPCC Council Christina Gabbitas, invites you to pen a poem or write song covering County Lines Exploitation, and associated topics, including; cuckooing, debt bondage, and knife crime, through the art of writing. We believe that poetry and songs have the power to provoke thought, inspire change, and give voice to the unheard.
Note from Christina Gabbitas: To ensure understanding, my current national initiative focuses on providing EDUCATION to children and young people who may have limited knowledge about county lines exploitation. I am fortunate to have the backing of numerous organisations, Police, youth workers, lived experience, as well as parents of children who have directly experienced the impacts of this issue.
Express your thoughts through verses that captivate and engage. Let your creativity flow and help us raise awareness about these important topics.
Not only will you have the opportunity to share your work with a supportive community, but we’ll also be selecting some exceptional pieces to be featured in a special book publication. Imagine seeing your words in print, making an impact on others and sparking conversations!
So, if you're ready to take on this challenge and be part of something meaningful, here's what you need to do:
If you are aged 12 to 21 and would like to showcase your talent, join Christina and the judges in this powerful poetry/song project.
Christina will be joined by several judges from poets, musicians, lived experience, youth workers, Police, and other organisations, who are all volunteering their time to help. Judges can be viewed further down the page.
Set your imagination free and let your words paint a vivid picture. Viewing the story Trapped in County Lines will help you to understand the topics…
Email your poems by 30th June 2024 to info@christinagabbitas.com.
Please state your name, age, school or university, and title of poem in your email.
Remember, your words have the power to make a difference. Let’s use poetry, and songs as a tool for change and raise awareness about these crucial issues.
Entries are open from 1st March until 30th June 2024:
There will be two categories:
12-16 and 17-21.
We have twenty five judges from all corners of the UK, from poets, police personnel, young people, to lived experience. Judges can be found below.
Winners announced online on International Youth Day Monday 12th August 2024.
The prizes: £200 vouchers for a store of your choice for the overall winner: 2nd place £100, 3rd place £50.00
The top 50 poems/songs to be published in a book.
MEET THE JUDGES
Christina has reached out to individuals who have engaged with her on the topics covered.
Christina Gabbitas
Author & Honorary Member of NSPCC Council, Coronation Champion, Point of Light Award Winner.
Founder of Children’s Literature Festivals charity.
Discover more…
Michael Bradley
Michael “Mickey” Bradley is the bassist for the Northern Irish pop punk band The Undertones. Bradley is also a radio producer for BBC Radio Foyle and presented a one-hour programme on Radio Ulster: “After Midnight with Mickey Bradley
Discover more…
Quinton Milise
Author, Poet Spoken Word Artist, Youth Mentor, Knife Crime Victim Support.
Discover more…
Fran Naughton
York & Selby Police Commander Superintendent
Anne Rannard
Protect Lead , National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCA)
Detective Inspector – Merseyside Police
Discover more…
Kerrin Wilson QPM
Strategic Leader Policing, Business and 3rd Sector Organisations, Lincolnshire
Mandy Chapman &
PD Baloo
Retired Met 30 Years – Volunteers with Wellbeing Retired Police Dog Baloo. Awarded Point of Light 2024.
Discover more…
Laura Bainbridge
Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice in the School of Law University of Leeds.
Specialising in violence reduction, cuckooing victimisation, and tagging.
Police Sergeant Mel Standbrook
Education Partnerships Lincolnshire Police
Detective Sergeant Sheralyn Melton
East Exploitation Team Lancashire Police
Lorraine Jones Burrell
Pastor, CEO Dwayne Simpson Foundation CIC
PC Michael Caulfield
Humberside Police Community Beat Manager, Hull
Donavan Christopher
Author, Poet & Spoken Word Artist, Huddersfield
Ann Marie Christian
International Safeguarding Consultant: Child Protection
Discover more…
Dean Coady OBE SMRC
Managing Director of Urban Pure Solutions, Gang and Street-Crime Specialist
Discover more…
Jenny Griffiths
Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Training and Partnerships Coordinator – West Yorkshire Police
Will Davis
Musician, Graphic Design & Digital Marketer
Alicia Abbott
Animator & Character Artist
University of the Arts London
British Association of Women in Policing
Mission is to ensure that women’s voices in policing are both heard and understood.
Discover more…
PCSO Nick Ellis Humberside Police
PCSO over 20 years in North Lincolnshire
PCSO Lisa Howie Humberside Police
PCSO North Lincolnshire
North Yorkshire Police Schools Liaison Team
The aim of the North Yorkshire Police School Liaison Team is keeping children and young people out of the criminal justice system.
Ian Hughes Detective Chief Inspector
Serious Violence Unit, Operational Police Command, Essex Police
Superintendent Helen Brear
West Yorkshire Police
Suzanne Gall
Detective Inspector West Yorkshire Police, County Lines Co-ordinator
Jayden Foster
Police Cadet
Androulla Nicolaou
Cate Moore
David Niven
Thoughts on the Social World podcast on safeguarding and is on the International Advisory Board of the Global Institute for Social Work.
Discover more…
Sue McTague
Education Specialist, South East London
Eleanor Hancock
Creative Poet and Writer from Derby
Ivan Humble
Anti Hate Campaigner and Lived Experience Support worker
Terms & Conditions:
All work must be the entrants own. All words will be checked for plagiarism. Copyright of all work to remain with the individuals.
Confidentiality: should we receive any submissions that raise concerns, these will be shared with a qualified professional whom we trust.
Upon entering the competition everyone agrees to having their work published online, and in our book/publication at no charge. Any profits from sales of the book will be donated to NSPCC Childline, charity number: 216401. All fifty individuals published, will receive a free copy of the book. This is a voluntary initiative organised by Christina Gabbitas. Contact: info@christinagabbitas.com Tel: 07852 804999
COMPETITION!
PEN A POEM OR WRITE A SONG
CALLING ALL YOUNG PEOPLE 12-21!
Multi Award-Winning Author and Honorary Member of the NSPCC Council Christina Gabbitas, invites you to pen a poem or write song covering County Lines Exploitation, and associated topics, including; cuckooing, debt bondage, and knife crime, through the art of writing. We believe that poetry and songs have the power to provoke thought, inspire change, and give voice to the unheard.
Note from Christina Gabbitas: To ensure understanding, my current national initiative focuses on providing EDUCATION to children and young people who may have limited knowledge about county lines exploitation. I am fortunate to have the backing of numerous organisations, Police, youth workers, lived experience, as well as parents of children who have directly experienced the impacts of this issue.
Express your thoughts through verses that captivate and engage. Let your creativity flow and help us raise awareness about these important topics.
Not only will you have the opportunity to share your work with a supportive community, but we’ll also be selecting some exceptional pieces to be featured in a special book publication. Imagine seeing your words in print, making an impact on others and sparking conversations!
So, if you're ready to take on this challenge and be part of something meaningful, here's what you need to do:
If you are aged 12 to 21 and would like to showcase your talent, join Christina and the judges in this powerful poetry/song project.
Christina will be joined by several judges from poets, musicians, lived experience, youth workers, Police, and other organisations, who are all volunteering their time to help. Judges can be viewed further down the page.
Set your imagination free and let your words paint a vivid picture. Viewing the story Trapped in County Lines will help you to understand the topics…
Email your poems by 30th June 2024 to info@christinagabbitas.com.
Please state your name, age, school or university, and title of poem in your email.
Remember, your words have the power to make a difference. Let’s use poetry, and songs as a tool for change and raise awareness about these crucial issues.
Entries are open from 1st March until 30th June 2024:
There will be two categories:
12-16 and 17-21.
We have twenty five judges from all corners of the UK, from poets, police personnel, young people, to lived experience. Judges can be found below.
Winners announced online on International Youth Day Monday 12th August 2024.
The prizes: £200 vouchers for a store of your choice for the overall winner: 2nd place £100, 3rd place £50.00
The top 50 poems/songs to be published in a book.
MEET THE JUDGES
Christina has reached out to individuals who have engaged with her on the topics covered.
Christina Gabbitas
Author & Honorary Member of NSPCC Council, Coronation Champion, Point of Light Award Winner.
Founder of Children's Literature Festivals charity. Discover more…
Michael Bradley
Michael "Mickey" Bradley is the bassist for the Northern Irish pop punk band The Undertones. Bradley is also a radio producer for BBC Radio Foyle and presented a one-hour programme on Radio Ulster: "After Midnight with Mickey Bradley
Discover more…
Quinton Milise
Author, Poet Spoken Word Artist, Youth Mentor, Knife Crime Victim Support.
Discover more…
Fran Naughton
York & Selby Police Commander Superintendent
Anne Rannard
Protect Lead , National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCA) Detective Inspector - Merseyside Police
Discover more…
Kerrin Wilson QPM
Strategic Leader Policing, Business and 3rd Sector Organisations, Northumbria
Mandy Chapman & PD Baloo
Retired Met 30 Years - Volunteers with Wellbeing Retired Police Dog Baloo. Awarded Point of Light 2024.
Discover more…
Laura Bainbridge
Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice in the School of Law University of Leeds. Specialising in violence reduction, cuckooing victimisation, and tagging.
Police Sergeant Mel Standbrook
Education Partnerships Lincolnshire Police
Detective Sergeant Sheralyn Melton
East Exploitation Team Lancashire Police
Lorraine Jones Burrell
Pastor, CEO Dwayne Simpson Foundation CIC
PC Michael Caulfield
Humberside Police Community Beat Manager, Hull
Donavan Christopher
Author, Poet & Spoken Word Artist, Huddersfield
Dean Coady OBE SMRC
Managing Director of Urban Pure Solution Gang and Street-Crime Specialist
Discover more…
Jenny Griffiths
Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Training and Partnerships Coordinator - West Yorkshire Police
Will Davis
Musician, Graphic Design & Digital Marketer
Alicia Abbott
Animator & Character Artist University of the Arts London
British Association of Women in Policing
Mission is to ensure that women’s voices in policing are both heard and understood.
Discover more…
PCSO Nick Ellis Humberside Police
PCSO over 20 years in North Lincolnshire
PCSO Lisa Howie Humberside Police
PCSO North Lincolnshire
North Yorkshire Police Schools Liaison Team
The aim of the North Yorkshire Police School Liaison Team is keeping children and young people out of the criminal justice system.
Discover more…
Ian Hughes Detective Chief Inspector
Serious Violence Unit, Operational Police Command, Essex Police
Superintendent Helen Brear
West Yorkshire Police
Suzanne Gall
Detective Inspector within West Yorkshire Police as a County Lines Co-ordinator
Jayden Foster
Police Cadet
Lou Hardy
Creative Director of Penguin Acting and Theatre Productions
Androulla Nicolaou
Child Exploitation Prevention Officer Child exploitation Team Avon and Somerset Police
Cate Moore
Service Delivery Manager Restorative Justice Independent Chair of Lincolnshire Police Ethics Panel.
David Niven
Thoughts on the Social World podcast on safeguarding and is on the International Advisory Board of the Global Institute for Social Work.
Discover more…
Sue McTague
Education Specialist, South East London
Eleanor Hancock
Creative Poet and Writer from Derby
Ivan Humble
Anti Hate Campaigner and Lived Experience Support worker
