AN AUTHOR and poet from Selby has been shortlisted for a regional prize.

Christina Gabbitas has been named as a finalist in the Sue Ryder Yorkshire Women of

Achievement in Education awards, in part for her campaign for more funding for education on the issues of safeguarding and child

protection.

She has also campaigned to improve literacy accessibility for children from all backgrounds, cultures and abilities, and was nominated by the chair of

Bradford Safeguarding Children Board and Ann Marie Christian.

Christina said: “I wasn’t aware that I had been nominated and received a call last week to say that I had been shortlisted.”

Anne Marie said she had

nominated Christina for her passion for the subject, and her creation of the NSPCC-endorsed safeguarding book which is used in schools and at the Reach Out Speak Out conference on safeguarding children.

She said: “I found Christina’s book Share Some Secrets online and contacted her over two years ago, as wanted to compliment her on such a valuable resource.”

David Niven, who also works on the Bradford Safeguarding Children Board, said he had been impressed by Christina’s work.

He said: “Christina is a true

inspiration and is testimony to what hard work can achieve. We have invited Christina to speak at Bradford Safeguarding Week in June.”

As well as being a book, Share Some Secrets was animated by students from Sheffield Hallam University, which is currently being shown to pupils in schools around the UK and overseas.

To find out more about

Christina’s work, go to christinagabbitas.com