Kidderminster Youngster Has Winning Design Published

Keep Safe Competition Winner, Kieran Brockett With CSO Vanessa HalfordA Kidderminster youngster has won a competition to design the front cover of a new magazine for young people.

The magazine, which is the brainchild of West Mercia Police Community Support Officer Vanessa Halford, is called ‘Keep Safe' and is aimed at 11 to 18 year olds across Wyre Forest.

It contains a wide range of personal safety information written and designed mostly by 11 to 18 year olds with the support of West Mercia Police. Topics covered include bullying, sexual health, alcohol, drugs and dealing with peer pressure.

To help launch the magazine CSO Halford arranged a competition to design the front cover. Anyone between 11 and 18 years old living in the Wyre Forest was eligible to enter and the prize was a brand new mountain bike.

Kieran Brockett, aged 14, who goes to Baxter College and is also a member of Kidderminster Youth Centre, was the lucky winner and has just seen his winning design published for the first time.

Commenting on winning, Kieran said: "It's brilliant. I really like art and study graphic design at school.

"I took several weeks getting the design right and I'm thrilled to have won.

"My own bicycle was getting a bit old so winning a new one is amazing."

The magazine is funded by West Mercia Police, The ContinU Trust, Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership and Thomas Vale Construction.

Kidderminster Youth Centre co-ordinated a lot of the content from youngsters who attend the centre, and other articles came from organisations including the NHS sexual health clinic, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and Childline.

CSO Halford said: "It has taken me since May to get this magazine off the ground and I'm really pleased with the final result.

"The magazines are being distributed around all the high schools in Wyre Forest, libraries, youth centre and Stonham housing as well as being available on the West Mercia Police website and our facebook page, so I'm hoping plenty of youngsters will have the chance to read it."

To view the magazine online visit either the link through the West Mercia Police website at http://bit.ly/tQv61W or the Wyre Forest Youth Inclusion Team page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wyreforestyouthinclusionteam

This week is also West Mercia Police's Personal Safety Week which offers advice aimed specifically at teenagers. More information can be found at http://www.westmercia.police.uk/personalsafetyweek/

Issued: Tuesday, 6 December 2011