AN ANDOVER mum has become an author of a children’s workbook as part of her crusade to stop child abuse.

Nicky Goodland, an Andover-based Stagecoach bus driver, has created a manual called It’s Worth a Try, which a close family member or friend can work through with a child to watch out for their wellbeing.

The 50-year-old set out on this mission after hearing from people she knew about abuse they suffered in their younger years.

Reading a book about a boy who died at the hands of his mother, was the last straw for Mrs Goodland who decided she wanted to make a difference.

She said: “I made a promise to that little boy and now I’m on that journey.

“My published book is a dream come true and now I have to put my dream into action- to try and help stop any form of abuse to the children of our world.

“My small but powerful book can be presented to the nans, grandads, aunties, uncles, god parents, anyone that has the joy of new life coming into their life.

“Hopefully no bad cruel things are happening so it is just a great time one-to-one. The child will have a voice to speak up on their terms.”

The mother-of-two also sees her “small book of hope” as a way for people to step up to confront child abuse rather than leave it all to often overburdened social services.

The book sets out simple questions for the adult to ask the child once a year from newborns to new-adults, watching them grow and watching out for unspoken issues such as bullying, self-harming, eating disorders, abuse and the like.

The book is available at Author House and Amazon. To find out more go to amazon.co.uk and search for either ‘Nicky Goodland’ or ‘It’s Worth a Try’