Northampton mental health advocate named as ambassador for national children’s charity

A Northampton-based mental health advocate has been named as an ambassador for a national children’s charity.

Joe Plumb, who set up an anti-bullying campaign at the age of 13, has now joined forces with Kidscape a charity that aims to help all children grow up free from bullying and harm.

The partnership with the charity will see Joe help to provide parents with advice, training and practical tools to prevent bullying, alongside other ambassadors including Gok Wan.

Joe said: “To be asked to get involved alongside so many great people is a great honour.

“It’s all about being a face of the charity and helping to promote what I do already.

“I was a victim of bullying as well so I can use my personal experience to promote a positive message, keep the charity going and keep supporting young people and parents.

“It’s massively important as the more awareness you can get out there, the more people you can help as bullying is a killer.”

As a child, Joe himself was bullied, which led to various mental illness diagnosis' and attempts to take his own life.

But at the age of 12 he began volunteering at a youth cafe for young people with additional needs, which led on to many other things as he became an advocate for mental health.

Joe has worked with national organisations such as the British Medical Association, The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, The British Youth Council and has even been on radio and TV and was recently part of a ‘Get Britain Talking’ advert.

He added: “I wanted to make a change to mental health services and implement better ways to help victims of bullying.

“This also included myself being part of a home office project to create a tool to help those with Autism and other additional learning needs, better communicate what was going on if they were being bullied.

“Kidscape helped me in my teens when I was being bullied so I love that I have become a bigger part of Kidscape and become an ambassador.

“I am now a multi award-winning public figure known worldwide, which I never thought would happen. I spread love, hope and positivity and I'm there for others who feel isolated and alone.”

Visit the Kidscape website to find out more about the support the charity offers.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you