Prison! Me! Way!
Being locked up in a prison cell. Seeing how easily a
street argument can get out of control and being ‘arrested’ - are
all on the curriculum for almost 750 pupils at 5 local upper
schools, as RBH commissions a series of workshops designed to warn
them about the serious impact anti social behaviour could
have on their future.
“These are not shock tactics,” said RBH's Communities First
Co-ordinator. “The ‘real life scenarios’ are presented by
experts to secondary school pupils in a matter of fact way that
spells out quite clearly what life is like in prison and the
consequences of criminal or anti social behaviour. The workshops
also focus on influences on behaviour and how young people
can be in control and make positive choices.”
RBH has commissioned the workshops as parts of our Communities
First initiative which helps to recognise, promote and reward good
behaviour. The events are being delivered to five local
schools in partnership with the No Way Trust and agencies from the
Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership.
They explain further, “We offer each school a bespoke event so
that they could choose workshops that relate to local issues and
problems. So, in addition to the prison life workshops, the pupils
learn about choices and consequences from a range of partner
agencies and organisations from the Rochdale Safer Communities
partnership such as the RBH, Police, Fire & Rescue Services,
Healthy Schools, Community Safety, Magistrates etc”.
The No Way Trust shows the youngsters the process a young person
has to go through when they arrive as a new prisoner and they
experience the loss of freedom, dignity and privacy for themselves
when they are ‘locked’ up in a mobile prison cell.
Paul Wilkinson, Chief Executive of the No Way Trust is a
part-time serving prison officer and is a founder member of the
charity which was set up 16 years ago. He said, “I wanted to help
youngsters see the impact of their actions. During the sessions, we
look at all aspects of the law – how it is there to keep you safe,
as well as to be obeyed. We encourage pupils to become more
responsible citizens and promote personal safety – it’s basically
learning for life. Home Office research shows that four fifths of
people who have been through our programmes are less likely to end
up in prison, so it does work.”
Principal, Eric Jackson of St. Anne’s Academy in Hollin, was
delighted his school was the first to showcase the project. He
said, “It was great to see such a range of organisations involved.
The work today reinforces key messages we give out at school to
pupils - that their actions can change the course of their lives
and have a huge impact on themselves, their families and their
community.” Two pupils from St. Anne’s Academy, Kerry Ann Sanderson
and Caylum Henry gained a lot from the experience. Kerry Ann, who
acted the role of the police officer in one of the street scenes
said, “It was quite frightening watching the people fighting – it
made me realise what it is like from the police point of view”.
Caylum was impressed to discover the Police had come along, saying
“I learned a lot more about what they did and it’s something I
might consider as a future job.”
Assistant Headteacher, Christine MacInnes of Oulder Hill
Community High School said, “We were undergoing an Ofsted
inspection that day and it was a real boost to our timetable, as we
are always keen to work in partnership with local organisations. We
have a diversity of students here and the day was tailored
specifically for us, perfectly supplementing our citizenship work.
The organisers have all been brilliant – within ten minutes our
Year 9 Pupils were captivated by what they saw and heard.”
Pupil, Hareem, who acted as one of the Police Officers in a
street scene thought the experience was great. She said, “It made
me see it from a Police point of view. Being in prison was really
bad, I felt so enclosed and I definitely don’t want to repeat the
experience.” Fellow student, Luke added, “I’ve learned a lot today,
the prison cell was a real eye-opener and if I see people fighting
in the street now, I know what to do.”