Treble tops!

JODIE BARBER (right) with the Every Life Matters team, left to right Charlotte Kilroy, Becca Dale and Chantel Birtwistle

A CAMPAIGN which started after the tragic death of an Oldham teenager killed in a car accident has touched the hearts of people in Oldham and the rest of the country.

Every Life Matters was set up by a group of youngsters from Oldham Youth Council in memory of Chris Dale (15) in Salem in 2009.

The team bagged a triple tonic of awards at Pride in Oldham, to add to their national Children and Young People Now Awards.

Their aim is to flag up the dangers of careless driving and went on to commission hard-hitting play “The Split Second”, which has been witnessed at sixth form colleges and Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.

The campaign had an influence on speed cameras being introduced in Lees Road, near the site of the collision that killed Chris.

His sister Becca Dale said the group would not have been able to begin if it was not for the hard work of Oldham Council’s Integrated Youth Services’ senior empowerment and participation manager, Jodie Barber, who also won Pride in Oldham’s Professional award.

The Every Life Maters team won our Group award and also scooped the Readers’ Choice accolade.

Becca (19), said: “Jodie has been with us since day one and we would go as far as saying we would not be the people we are today without her.”

Jodie said: “They are a pleasure to work with and they are so inspirational.

“A couple of weeks ago they got nationally recognised, but these awards seem better as it is for Oldham and it is their local people recognising them.”


Tonight’s paper edition and the eChron have full reports and pictures from the glittering event, plus a 12 page special on the winners and their achievements.

You can see all our pictures from the night by clicking on the “buy a photo” tab above