Introduction
As Safer Schools Campaign lead, I had recently committed to being in London full time, to ensure an investigation would take place into the safeguarding failures related to bullying, physical and sexual violence in UK schools.
Soon after and now officially homeless, I set up home at the end of Downing Street and declared that I would remain there for the foreseeable future, until the calls for an investigation were heard. As a consequence, the local authorities were informed and 11 Downing Street was registered as my official temporary location.
I have since informed the Prime Minister and all members of the Education Select Committee of this fact and that I will remain there until an independent investigation is set up and in place. Before doing so, I had engaged with the London Metropolitan Police and have subsequently engaged with both the Armed Police Units around Downing Street and Cabinet Office Security on a daily basis, so that they are all fully aware of the situation and of the intention to remain there quietly and respectfully until the issues are resolved.
As a result, this is now my home and the official home of the Safer Schools Campaign and after demonstrating for almost 3 weeks now, that come rain or shine the campaign is here to stay, there’s now an opportunity for the public to get behind it.
Get Involved #11DowningStreet
The Campaign is inviting any parents/carers and families, especially who have faced issues with bullying and violence to come to Downing Street to support the calls for an investigation. To do so, all you need to do, is come to Downing Street, where you’ll find us right outside the main security gate and next to the Cabinet Office at SW1A 2AB
The Campaign would then like you to take your picture with our Downing Street Signs and post it on your own Social Media using the Hashtag #11DowningStreet. You can then share a brief post to explain why you support the call.
The Safer Schools Campaign will be available for this purpose initially on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 5pm and 8pm subject to any major issues and will try and post as early as possible on Social media if this is not going to be possible on any given day.
Jason Barnett
Safer Schools Campaign Lead