Boys banned from skater-girl classes

Video feature published on the BBC Kent website, Feb 2008 - link Video feature published on BBC Newsround website, Feb 2008 - link
News story published on BBC News website, Feb 2008 - link
Film broadcast on BBc South East Today, Feb 2008
Film broadcast on BBC Newsround, Feb 2008 - link
Audio report broadcast on BBC Radio Kent, Feb 2008 - listen



BBC - Skater Girl from Robert Leslie on Vimeo.

Boys banned from skater-girl classes
The days of the skate park being overrun with boys may soon be over - thanks to the creation of a girl-only skateboarding school in Thanet. Watch our film.
'No Yucky Boys', says the poster advertising girl-only classes at the Revolution Skate Park in Broadstairs.

Apparently girls often feel intimidated and embarrassed when learning alongside the lads - so single sex skateboarding is the obvious answer.

Click the link below to watch our film, including an interview with girl instructor Becky Jaques...

Sport Relief helps women fight back

Video feature published on the BBC Kent website, Feb 2008 - link Broadcast on BBC South East Today, March 2008
Broadcast on BBC Radio Kent, March 2008 - listen

BBC - Sport Relief from Robert Leslie on Vimeo.


Sport Relief helps women fight back
Karate classes in Kent help victims of physical and emotional abuse to rebuild their lives.

Every week, two women are killed by their partner or by their ex. And for women under 45, domestic violence is more lethal than breast cancer.

For those lucky enough to escape an abusive relationship, the first port of call is often a women's refuge. Here, out of harm's reach, they can look to rebuild their life and sense of self worth.

Last year, Sport Relief paid for Frank Nezhadpournia, a traditional Shotokan Karate instructor, to teach refuge residents how to defend themselves against physical aggression - and to fight back.

"Karate does teach self defence but really I'm teaching self confidence. They get to slap me and push me around - it's all part of building and empowering the women," says Frank.

"Some of them ask me to re-enact the situations that they've experienced and I find that they sometimes get quite emotional. But once they've done it they fell they have actually accomplished something and can close the chapter on it and move on."

ComfortKathy suffered emotional abuse during a long-term relationship and, after contacting Women's Aid, was placed in a refuge in north Kent.

There with her three kids for six months, Kathy found comfort in sharing her experiences with other women and in taking out her aggression on Frank.

"You sit there and you wallow in self-pity if you've got nothing to do but it [karate] gives you motivation and encourages you to get out of bed in the morning," she says.

"I can walk down the street now and hold my head up high. It makes me smile - I've done my 6 months in refuge, I did my self defence. Thanks to Sport Relief I've done that and hopefully if they can get more funding they can help more people in the future."

Kathy now has an orange belt and, recalling her early lessons with Frank, breaks into a broad smile: "we've punched Frank everywhere - and the thing is I think he quite likes it!"

Tour de France 2007: route video

In June 2007, I drove the route of stage 1 of the Tour de France - and filmed it at the same time. The result was a speeded-up view of the course.

Published to the BBC Kent website and elements broadcast on BBC South East Today, June 2007

Watch

Tour de France 2007: cycling stage 1

In June 2007, I cycled the 150 miles of the first stage of the Tour de France, broadcasting live on a daily basis for the BBC Radio Kent John Warnett programme, blogging for the BBC Kent website and packaging audio for the BBC Radio Kent Drive-Time programme.

I used the latest in new technology to GPS track my route online and send back text and photo content on the move.

See my online diary

Listen to the following broadcast diary entries:

Shepherd Neame Kent Journalist of the Year 2007

In January 2008, I came Runner-Up in the Shepherd Neame Kent Jounalist of the Year Awards 2007. Category: Newspaper/Online Journalist of the Year.



Press release

I received the award for the following submissions:
Cycling fans cheer on Tour heroes
When Poland came to Kent
Community in crisis: Greenhithe's Gateway blues