News & Media
Back to main news pageReliance supports ACPO Charity to cut youth crime
The Kids Taskforce, a charity dedicated to educating young people on personal safety, hit the news last month when it won the support of London Mayor Boris Johnson, who is funding projects aimed at reducing gun and knife crime in the capital. Mr Johnson announced funding of more than half a million pounds for the missdorothy.com and Watch Over Me programmes for primary and secondary schools. The Kids Taskforce aims to get these safety schemes to every child in the UK by 2010.
The Kids Taskforce has also recently received support from Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd. The secure services company, impressed with the good work being carried out by the charity, has adopted the taskforce as its annual company charity.
Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd understands all too well the importance of security working as it does with trusted partners in the criminal justice sector. The company will work closely with the Kids Taskforce to raise funds and enhance its profile; the company has recently supported the Kids Taskforce first anniversary celebration at the House of Lords and has now sponsored the charity's new website www.thekidstaskforce.com . This new website will help extend awareness of the commendable work that the charity is doing.
The Kids Taskforce is a partnership between four organisations: ACPO (the Association of Chief Police Officers), CFOA (Chief Fire Officers’ Association) and PFA (Professional Footballers' Association) and the team that delivers the missdorothy.com and Watch Over Me education programmes. They are working together to set a common standard for safety education in schools throughout the UK. The missdorothy.com and Watch Over Me learning programmes are endorsed by Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and are the first independent personal safety resource to win government backing. The Kids Taskforce aims to get them to every child in the UK by 2010. The programmes are delivered by teachers in the classroom and supported by police officers, fire officers and football coaches.
“We will be working closely with the Kids Taskforce, supporting and raising funds for them in what ever way we can over the coming year. Diverting children from a life of crime and warning them of danger is an important corporate social responsibility for us. We understand all too well the importance of security working as we do with trusted partners in the criminal justice sector. For that reason we fully support the work being done by the Kids Taskforce to educate young people and improve their safety and awareness of risk,” said Simon Marshall, the Operations Director for Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd.
“The Kids Taskforce aims to work with trusted business partners such as Reliance to achieve its goal of reaching every child in Britain by 2010. The funding announced by the Mayor will allow us to roll out the programmes across London, which is a huge step forward. Working in partnership with others is central to the aims of the Kids Taskforce and Reliance's help with our website and events has been invaluable”, said Sharon Doughty, Head of the Kids Taskforce.