Russet Homes sponsorship helps children learn about anti-social behaviour » Housing » 24dash.com

Around 400 pupils in Tonbridge and Malling are being encouraged to think long and hard about the consequences of bullying, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage thanks to new sponsorship from Russet Homes.

Part of Circle Anglia, Russet Homes is the largest provider of social housing in Tonbridge and Malling and donated £2,500 to a scheme being run by the Children’s Safety Education Foundation. Pupils aged 7-14 years attending four schools have been given the Foundations topical books designed to provide them with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to avoid and handle the risks they may face in their everyday lives.

Pupils aged 7-11 years received ‘Will Power’s’, a book covering topics such as anti-social behaviour, bullying, smoking, alcohol and drugs misuse. Older pupils between 11-14 years were given a book called ‘Respect – your life your choice’, highlighting issues like car crime, shoplifting, domestic violence, racial harassment and vandalism and offering advice on personal safety.

Jacqueline Wilkinson, Russet Homes Operations Director – Housing Services, said: “As a landlord to so many local people we jumped at the chance to help promote these powerful messages to children and make them stop and think about the affect their actions can have on other people lives. Too often children submit to peer pressure and think it is acceptable to damage people’s property and intimidate local residents and communities.”

“Russet Homes has already signed up to the Government’s Respect Standard for Housing Management making a visible commitment to residents and employed two specialist officers to help combat anti-social behaviour. We strongly believe prevention is better than a cure and by showing young people they have a choice and encourage them to take responsibility for their actions we can help reduce the anti-social behaviour in our communities and create a culture of respect.”