Harrogate Borough Council

You are here: Residents > Council and Democracy > Press releases > Press Releases (07-08) > Drama used to influence young people's lifestyle

1 NOVEMBER 2007: OVER 2000 young people are being invited to a drama performance 'aimed at positively influencing their lifestyle choices'.  The Harrogate District Safer Communities Partnership is funding this Theatre in Education to highlight the damage that young people can suffer or cause through their behaviour.

 

Year 8 students from all the district's 10 secondary schools will also take part in audience participation when Crag Rats, a well established West Yorkshire based company, delivers this message about the choices they can make.  The drama line will cover what constitutes anti-social behaviour and the damaging effects of alcohol misuse.  The actors will also demonstrate how to handle difficult peer pressure and how it can be avoided; they will also show how young people can socialise on the streets in a way that won't offend neighbours.

 

Councillor Les Ellington, Chair of the Harrogate District Safer Communities Partnership and Cabinet Member for Public Protection for Harrogate Borough Council, said:  "On the whole, our young people are well behaved and are on the right road to becoming responsible adults.  But there are many pressures on them in today's society and we want to emphasise through a medium they respect how they can take care of themselves as well as learning how to be good citizens.

 

"This the third year running we have funded this Theatre in Education and we have had some very positive results from past performances."

 

This positive work doesn't stop when Crag Rats leave, as teachers use support materials to continue to work within the school's normal curriculum.

 

"This project is an exciting and effective part of the personal, social, health and citizenship curriculum for young people in secondary schools in the district, says Joy Craven, Healthy Schools' Co-ordinator for North Yorkshire and York PCT.  "It also forms part of a school's progress towards achieving Health School status, a national award which recognises those who promote and implement healthier lifestyles.  I am grateful for the Safer Partnership's continued support."

 

The project will run from Monday, 5 November to Friday 16 November.  ENDS

 

 

NOTE TO EDITORS:  Last year 98 per cent of young people said that they now thought more about the effects of anti social behaviour and crime; 95 per cent said they had learned more about how drinking puts personal safety at risk and 95 per cent said they felt more confident that they could make the right decision if someone pressured them into doing something wrong.