Innovative programme to tackle Youth Violence launches in Hampshire

Schools across Hampshire will use drama techniques to explore some of the challenges young people face growing up, and empower them to make informed decisions, thanks to a major new programme of work from Artswork in partnership with BearFace Theatre.

The programme for young people aged 10-12, and school staff, has been commissioned by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Violence Reduction Unit, and will take place in schools across the region over the next two years.

With 39% of young people either being the victim of, or witnessing, violence and 55% reporting they had seen real life acts of violence on social media (Children, Violence and Vulnerability, Youth Endowment Fund, 2022) this intervention takes a trauma-informed approach and aims to empower young people to navigate the complexities of modern life.

Using a range of materials, developed using the voices of young people, this programme will examine the risks and impact of knife crime and the dangers of exploitation and other violence. It will support the young people involved to find their own solutions, enabling them to build positive relationships and respond to challenging situations throughout their lives.

Over the course the next two years, the programme will visit over 70 schools in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, delivering sessions for both children and staff and using drama techniques to “rehearse” challenging situations.

The programme is funded by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Violence Reduction Unit.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Violence Reduction Unit is coordinated through the Office of The Police and Crime Commissioner. PCC Donna Jones said:

“I am really pleased to support this fantastic programme which will have such a positive impact on school children across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

“Interventions, especially in these formative years, are crucial as they allow young people to understand the risks of violence, knife crime and exploitation and help them make informed decisions on how to respond more positively to challenging situations throughout their life.

“As Commissioner, I am committed to funding projects and working with education partners to prevent young people from becoming victims and committing crimes.”

Chief Executive of Artswork, Louise Govier, said:

“At Artswork, we believe in the power of arts and creativity to shape happier and healthier children and young people. We are delighted to be bringing this innovative new programme to schools in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, using drama techniques to empower the young people involved to make informed choices. If you’ve explored different options and their possible consequences and rehearsed making positive choices within the safe environment of a supportive creative session, you develop experience that can help you in real life situations. We look forward to working with many young people and teachers over the next two years.”

Southampton-based charity Artswork works to empower children and young people through creativity. They recently led a partnership where young people interviewed over 300 other people their age in Portsmouth and Southampton about their experiences of violence, as part of the Peer Action Collective initiative led by the Youth Endowment Fund. BearFace Theatre specialise in work with people affected by the criminal justice system and have worked extensively in the region with both young people and adults.

For more information contact Annabel Cook Annabelcook@artswork.org.uk

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Hampshire OPCC schools Theatre youth violence