Final curtain for anti-social behaviour
A social landlord has launched dramatic new measures to curb anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) has been working with train4change, an interactive drama based training company and Community Impact, an organisation set up by Birmingham based Trident Housing Association, together with teaching staff at Queens Park High School Chester (QPH) to tackle ASB. The partnership engaged students at QPH about the issue of ASB, culminating in a performance by students and professional actors.
Paul Hargreaves, Director and Stage manager for train4change, worked closely with QPH’s Year 9 learning manager Clare Philips and drama teacher Ceri Prys-Owen to ensure students were ready for the curtain call on the school’s Curriculum Enrichment day on the 19th May. Nelly Samra, Director (Community Impact) and Pat Cullen, CDHT Respect Coordinator completed the team with Pat involved in touring the local ASB hotspot areas with Paul to assist with the preparation of a suitable script for the performance.
The play was performed by five year 10 students from QPH and five professional actors in front of more than 140 students. Short question and answer breaks were included to interact with the students and the results were recorded on flip charts. The event was video recorded to enable the idea to be introduced into other local schools.
CDHT’s involvement in the project started in November 2007. The housing trust was actively seeking to invest time and money into a school programme with a view to educating students about the effects of ASB and enabling them to make informed choices before engaging in this conduct. CDHT decided to engage with students as part of their response to signing up to the Government’s Respect Agenda for Housing Management. As part of its Citizenship programme for year nine students, QPH agreed to take 250 copies of ‘Your Life, Your Choice’, a book about ASB purchased on the school’s behalf by CDHT from the Childrens Safety Education Foundation.
The programme was launched at the school with two actors from train4change presenting short plays to students assembled in the hall, only when the loud music of the first play commenced did they know about the programme. This surprise element definitely helped to bring great effect to the day with students playing a full part in the questions and answer sessions that followed.
Pat Cullen said:
“CDHT works closely with partner agencies within the community safety partnership and we continually strive to make peoples lives more peaceful in the communities we serve. I believe that the relationship developed with the local Police has resulted in achieving some excellent results through prompt information sharing and a willingness to react swiftly when problems arise.
The Trust is working hard to promote a closer working relationship with schools and although there is still much to be done, hopefully our work with QPH will help towards a different approach to working with young people and one which can be rolled out to other schools if successful.
The Trust will be liaising with the Police during the next six months and we hope to see the success of this innovative approach reflected in fewer ASB incidents.”
Clare Phillips, learning manager for QPH, said:
“Working alongside CDHT and these agencies has really allowed staff and students of Queen’s Park High to explore and understand the issues surrounding ASB in our local area. The students have got a great deal, not only from the day, but from the ongoing work we have been doing with our partners since November 2007. The year 10 actors worked extremely hard and the school was very proud of their achievements. As a result of this work it is clear that the year 9 students have a good understanding of the cause and effect of ASB. I hope that they keep these ideas with them, so that they can make informed choices now and in the future. The partnerships we have formed have been invaluable and I would encourage all schools to get involved in similar projects.”
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Notes to Editors
For more information and photos please visit:
http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/chester-district-housing-trust
Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) was created in November 2000 to acquire the housing stock of Chester District Council and now owns and manages over 6,200 properties in and around Chester, employing 275 staff. The Trust’s homes fall in to six neighbourhoods – Blacon North; Blacon South; Chester City Area; The Rurals; Lache and Handbridge; Upton, Hoole, Newton and Plas Newton.
CDHT provides a range of services to tenants and residents in Chester and surrounding areas. These include ChesterCare, a community alarm service for CDHT tenants, other association tenants and private customers and also the specially designated Community Intervention Budget. This improves facilities and allows changes which are felt buy tenants to be vital to their community. CDHT also manages the housing waiting list and homelessness agency service on behalf of Chester City Council.
Current projects for CDHT include the £12million regeneration of the Treborth Road area of Chester to include 200 new homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as a village green and wildlife habitats.
For more details please visit www.cdht.net
CDHT Press Contact: James Brady
E: james@marketingprojects.co.uk
M: 07872 051309
T: 01244 330000
W: www.marketingprojects.co.uk
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