Havant mum whose daughter died at Mutiny Festival ready for 'biggest year yet' in drug education fight

JUST two years after her daughter died taking drugs at a festival, a Havant mum is ready for her ‘biggest year yet’ in her fight for drug education.
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Georgia Jones died after taking pills at Mutiny Festival in Cosham but mum Janine is determined that the loss of her 18-year-old daughter wasn’t in vain.

The 42-year-old launched her campaign ‘Georgia Jones Don't Go With The Flo' to get youngsters talking about drugs, harm reduction and peer pressure in a bid that others' lives might be saved.

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The education campaign started after Georgia and Tommy Cowan died at the Portsmouth music festival in 2018.

Janine Milburn 
Picture: Ian Hargreaves  (181031-1_mutiny)Janine Milburn 
Picture: Ian Hargreaves  (181031-1_mutiny)
Janine Milburn Picture: Ian Hargreaves (181031-1_mutiny)

Janine told The News: ‘I have put so much into this campaign and it is so important to me that we educate teenagers and adults and take away the stigma.

‘It has been slow going some times but I have learnt so much and this year will be my biggest yet and I am really excited.’

Janine, who works full time at a care home near Chichester, recently spoke at Hayling College and said the response from pupils and teachers was ‘absolutely brilliant’ and hopes to talk at more schools across the area.

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She added: ‘I have spent a lot of time talking and waiting and making sure what I offer fits into what schools need to educate their pupils safely. There is a fine line between educating kids and putting ideas into their heads.

Georgia Jones who died after taking drugs at Mutiny Festival 2018Georgia Jones who died after taking drugs at Mutiny Festival 2018
Georgia Jones who died after taking drugs at Mutiny Festival 2018

‘There's a lot of people who just don't want to talk about drugs but Portsmouth is one of the worst cities in England for drug related deaths. You get a lot of people who say it's their own fault as they knew what they were doing. Georgia thought she knew what she was doing but she didn't have a clue. They all think they are invincible.’

Janine has recently been boosted by The Co-operative Funeralcare in Leigh Park, which has donated £500.

Tracy Newman, funeral co-ordinator at the branch which is part of Southern Co-op, said: ‘Janine is an incredibly inspiring woman and she is so dedicated to what she is doing. My colleague Rachel Cast supported her with her daughter's funeral and we've followed her campaign over the last year.

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‘We hope the donation will enable her to continue spreading important information about drugs. If just one life is saved then it has been worth it.’

Georgia Jones's mum Janine Milburn.

Picture: Sarah Standing (180828-9993)Georgia Jones's mum Janine Milburn.

Picture: Sarah Standing (180828-9993)
Georgia Jones's mum Janine Milburn. Picture: Sarah Standing (180828-9993)

Janine added: ‘Georgia always wanted to help people and become a teacher. She absolutely loved talking to people as well.

‘I think she would be proud of me because I am teaching others but I think she may also tell me to shut up!’

Full details of the campaign can be found on Facebook via facebook.com/flos2018/.

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