To download and print - The Y, Leicester

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pageType of ActivityAimObjectivesPartnersSessions LeadersArtistAge GroupVenueEvaluationCUTTINGDOWN THECHALK&TALKVictim Empathy Group with Arts - Community Payback SessionsMark Sheehan, Group Co-ordinator &Adrian Giles, Victims’ Officer (YOS)Visual Arts Intervention - PilotDevelop an arts activity to deliver specificparts of the victim empathy sessions innewer, more stimulating waysYoung people to learn techniquesto demonstrate their learning andunderstanding through visualrepresentations.Group leaders and the artist to worktogether to investigate ways in whichthe arts can be best integrated intoYOS practiceLeicester YOS/The Big DifferenceCompany/The Y (Leicester YMCA)Mark Sheehan/Adrian Giles/Richard WrightPaul Barrand (Artist)13-19 yearsThe Y - East Street, LeicesterPete Mosley (Umbrella)Funding Leicester YOS/The Y/Big Difference CompanyBIG DIFFERENCECOMPANY - MAYA BISWASThis exciting pilot projectis a collaboration betweenThe Y, Leicester YouthOffending Service (YOS) andBig Difference Company.The project started with theexisting YOS programmes foryoung offenders that look atVictim Empathy and AngerAwareness.Beverley Sterling, Arts Development Officer (Youth Offending)based at The Y, suggested that there might be an opportunityto investigate ways that arts and creativity could add to theprogramme. She approached the Big Difference Companywho brought in a fine artist/animator to use comic bookstyle storyboarding. Big Difference Company run the ‘MakeMe Happy’ programme which uses the arts and humour ina variety of different settings. The techniques involved inanimation and cartooning are simple tools that can be usedto express and illustrate thoughts and understanding.The pilot was independently evaluated by Umbrella and wasdemonstrated to be very successful, effective and engagingfor the young people.Victim Awareness ProgrammeThe aim of the programme is to give young people anunderstanding of how a victim feels when an offence iscommitted. The course is victim not offence focused, thereforethe programme can be offered to a wider range of offenders.The programme supports young people to develop a greaterempathy for victims. This will give young offenders a morein-depth understanding of the affects of crime and thereforelowers the chance of them re-offending.Target GroupThe programme was designed solely for young people whoare working with the city YOS. The preferred age for any youngperson attending our groups is 13 - 17. The course itself issuitable for males and females. Often the mixture of genderwithin such groups adds to the success of the programme.ContentThe programme usually runs over three sessions of two and ahalf hours. However with the creative addition of ‘art’ as a toolto assist young people in their understanding the programmewas extended to five sessions.The original programme begins with an understanding ofwho is a victim and an understanding of the word empathy.It then goes on to discuss the ‘six states of a victim’: social,emotional, physical, spiritual, financial and mental. Afterlooking at emotions the programme goes on to examiningthe thoughts, feelings and emotions a victim may experienceduring and after an offence has been committed. Theprogramme asks why people commit crimes, hierarchy ofoffences (a victims perspective), denial, and a discussion onRestorative Justice. Role play (Joe Blagg), large and sub groupdiscussion as well as ice breakers and DVDs are used astools to assist young people’s learning and to accommodatedifferent learning styles. Depending on the types of offenceswithin the group specific topics i.e. shop theft, violent attackscan be added.Victim Empathy Group with ArtsWe added the arts element as a pilot study to see how othercreative ways of assisting young people within group workcould be used. The programme changed little however, artrather than drama was used as the creative tool to assistlearning. Drama is a very useful tool within group work but dueto the low confidence and esteem of group members it cansometimes be very difficult to encourage and motivate youngpeople to take part. Art on the other hand we felt would be lessconfrontational and more successfully encourage and motivategroup members.VisualArts

VisualArtsExamples of the art workcompleted by the groupmembers at various stages ofthe programmeTaken from the drawings on emotions youngpeople created their own characters. Thesewould be used later when drawing scenariosand cartoon scripts that looked at thethoughts, feelings and emotions of the victim.Part of each of the five sessions was devoted to the expressionof what was learnt through art. The first session on art focused onemotions whilst also developing basic drawing skills. Here you cansee young people learning how different face shapes, eye brows, andmouth shape for example can express different emotions.Young people enjoyed this session improving confidence in drawingability and understanding of emotions.A first attempt at putting a cartoonscript together using characters.

pageFinally the group members put together a more complete cartoonscript using one of the given scenarios.The group then created their own ‘flow charts’of the stages of a victim.It was agreed by all that the visual art intervention was a veryuseful tool in helping young people both express and assisttheir learning within group settings.VisualArts

pageYELLOWBOXChallenge and Support UnitHello, you may know us……Jennie Skelding is theChallenge and SupportCo-ordinator. You may find herwhizzing around the city on hermoped or in her granddad’scar (not at the same time!).And, as she hails fromWolverhampton, she says‘bab’ and ‘mucker’ a lot!Naomi Tansey is the Challengeand Support Unit Worker.She is always on the go, witha smoothie or food in her handand a smile on her face! If youwant to know anything onfashion or celebrity gossip shegets you the lowdown!The Challenge & Support Unit work withyoung people (10 - 17 years old) who areinvolved in anti social behaviour on a oneto one and group work basis to addressthe issues that are affecting them.We also try to divert them into positiveactivities such as football, mini moto,boxing and much more.We have to think of creative ways to workwith young people on a limited budgetand we also meet with young people indifferent settings. We are firm believersthat you don’t have to have a lot ofmoney/funding to be creative and usedifferent genres to work effectively withdifferent people.However, if you have got the funding tofund a professional, young people geta lot out of it and it could give them thedirection that they need!VisualArts

VisualArtsJennie and Naomi’s thoughtsabout offending work and art!!Every Case Manager needs a………..Big Yellow BoxJennie and Naomi love their big yellow,easy to carry ART BOX!This must be purchased from Espo or else procurementwill fine you!Be Creative! You don’t have to be an Artist to create Art!Creating Art doesn’t have to take a lot of time. It’s about usingit as a tool to address emotions, feelings, thoughts aboutoffending and the impact it has on othersDon’t forget to display work (maybe as case managers youhave an art display at YMCA or a space in your reception area)or show panel members their work.Think outside the YELLOW BOX!What we recommend for the contents:Coloured pensColoured pencilsGlueScissorsCellotapeCard/paper/plain and colouredMagazinesNewspaper articlesGlitter/craftsDisposable cameraExamples of art workby Support WorkersIt’s all about me, me, me, me, me!Jennie says that Naomi loves this session. No joking, this isa fantastic way for a practitioner and young person to get toknow each other and having an indication of a young person’slevel of self esteem.You will need:Paper/card colouredMagazines, photos, newspapersPens and pencils colouredScissors, glue and cellotapeHow do to it1. Introduce session to young person and have a discussionaround the following:• Likes• Dislikes• Star Sign• Age• Music• Quotes important to young person• Favourite foods• Basically anything!Encourage young person to create a collage, which portraysthem as a person (see Jennie and Naomi’s examples).Top TipsMake sure you have a selection of magazines that representdifferent genders and cultures. A diverse range that is ALSOAGE APPROPRIATE! Check contents beforehand to avoidembarrassing moments.It is important for you to have an example ready (here’s oneI did earlier!) and display collages in a presentation type way.It is such a fun and a fab way to get to know a young person.

PastPresentFutureMy Journey (Past, Present and Future)Jennie and Naomi find this to be a really fun and creativeintroduction session with young people. It gives them theopportunity to explore their feelings, thoughts and viewsrelating to their past, present and future. This will give moreinsight into a young person’s perception of self and others andwhere they see themselves in the future. An easy way to get toknow each other.You will need:Paper (coloured)Felts and coloured pencilsPen and pencil for writingMagazines and newspapers or photosScissors, glue, cellotopeHow to do it1. Introduce sessions to young person. Ask themto consider:• Any significant events good or bad• Significant people in their life• Significant places, i.e. day trips, area, houses etc.• Memories i.e. school• Personnel belongings, i.e. first bike, cuddly toy, trainers,games, diary etc.2. Encourage young person to make use of the resourcesto create either a collage or timeline which portrays theirpast, present and future using a mixture of pictures,drawings, photos, words, poetry and images.Top Tips• This session can either be one or 3 shorter sessionsi.e. Past/Present/Future.• Always give the young person an example to inspirethem and trigger ideas.• This could also be adapted to Life before offending/Lifeduring offending/Future.ImagesMade by youngperson aged13 yearspageVisualArts

Let’s Create a Poster for a Change!VisualArtsJennie and Naomi find creating a poster a good way tocommunicate different messages to a wide audience. It is funand gets a young person thinking more deeply about certaintopics such as victim awareness, anti-social and offendingbehaviour or drugs awareness etc.You will need:Use a computer to create a poster or do it the goodold-fashioned way and use:• Card• Coloured pens and pencils• Paints• Glue• Craft materialsBasically anything you like - Be creative!!How to do itIntroduce session to young person and have discuss a topic.This will allow the thinking process to begin. Perhaps do a spiderdiagram of ideas and thoughts.Top Tips• Always give the young person an example so it inspires themand triggers ideas.• Consider different perspectives i.e. Get the young person tocreate a poster from the victim and communities perspective.Shield of EffectsThis is a good session to address the effects of offending andanti-social behaviour on people and helps young people tounderstand the wider implications of their actions on others.You will need:• A large piece of card or paper• pens, paper, glue, scissors• Magazines and newspapersHow to do it1. Using a felt tip, divide the paper into 4 sections and label it.• Victims• Your familyTop Tips• This can be one or 4 sessions - looking at victim’s thoughtsand feelings on one session and the effects of offending ontheir family the next etc.• Another way is by cutting 4 jigsaw shapes from a largepiece of paper. At each individual session focus on people’sperspectives and the final session (Session 4) bring itall together.Spitting BarsThis session is for young people who are interested in rapping,MC’ing or making poetry.The key is that it’s not always about performing, but themessage in the words and the thoughts of the young person.This can be set for homework and brought to the next session.Remember you don’t have to be a rapper or a poetry writer todeliver this session.You will need:• A pencil/pen• PaperHow to do it1. Explain to the young person the aim of the session.2. As a case manager you would have already picked a subjectfor them to write about or the subject area could be flexible:unemployment, being excluded from school, effects of theirbehaviour on others, relationships - ANYTHING!3. If the young person needs inspiration, do a word storm.For example:Didn’t realise it was classedas criminal damageCCTV - Are peoplewatching me?No victims - it’s a wallCRIMINAL DAMAGEIt’s not criminal damage - it’sabout creating art. Graffiti isart, not a crimeExcitementTop Tips• Anyone can create poetry or make up lyrics - for examplelook at those fridge magnetics poetry that you can get -everyone can do it!!• You might want to write or type up a list of words and thenget the young person to create a piece of poetry from this.Same idea as the fridge magnetic poetry! But you can do itabout their offending or subjects they identify with.• Look on the internet for examples of poetry or rapsfor inspiration.• Remember it’s about the discussion, not how good theend product is!• Have a go yourself! It’s all part of the process!Mad, Sad, Glad and BadThis is something that we have tried in our previous roles thatcan work on any subject. You can set it as a task to do bythemselves or support them. This session can be used to lookat their neighbourhood, home or school environment.You will need:• A digital camera or a disposal camera• Computer and printer or the cost of film processingHow to do itThis can be done with cameras, words i.e. poetry, rapping,images from magazines. It’s your choice.1. Let the young person find images that make them Mad, Sad,Glad or Bad.2. Ask the young person to place these images into a collage.3. Let the young person present their ideas to you and work onthe issues that come up.Top Tips• This has been very successful and young people haveenjoyed it so much it has now become a competition!• You can also do this session around emotions, thoughts andfeelings, it doesn’t have to be around their environment.This can be turned into a good anger management session!• Your community• You2. Ask the young person to create a piece of art by looking at theeffects of their crime/anti social behaviour on the above. Don’tforget they can use words, statements, images.4. Discuss and use their thoughts for further work. This mayprovide you with an opportunity to get them involved in othermusic/poetry sessions or sessions that interests them.3. Discuss and if not completed use it for the next session.

EVERYWEDNESDAYSoft Touch Arts Activities - Kieran Walsh (RAP Worker)pageYoung people on theRehabilitation and AftercareProgramme (RAP) and theIntensive Supervision andSurveillance Programme(ISSP) have created a hugeamount of artwork over the lastyear as part of a partnershipproject with Soft Touch Arts.Soft Touch are a communityarts organisation based inLeicester, who have over 20years of experience workingwith marginalised young peopleacross the city and beyond.Young people who are involvedin the YOS can attend musicand arts sessions twice a weekwhich are very popular.The arts sessions run every Wednesday and the young peopleget the opportunity to try out different activities and developtheir creative skills and talents. Animation, digital photography,graphics, and t-shirt making, are just some of the activities thattake place, as well as more traditional crafts such as sculpture,painting and drawing. Many of the young people haveincorporated their artwork into their music sessions and havecreated CD covers, flyers and banners to promote themselves.In addition many of the young people on the project havetaken the opportunity to complete an Arts Award, which is anationally recognised qualification.Young people have also used the sessions to brighten up thespaces they use. Working in collaboration with a local graffitiartist, Leigh, they have created jungle and underwater scenesin the back yard of the RAP office as well as a futuristic sceneat Soft Touch. They have also recently completed a very eyecatching mural in the city centre to commemorate the SpecialOlympics opening - which was officially unveiled by none otherthan Leicester’s own Engelbert Humperdink!VisualArts

VisualArtsYOUNGBRITSAT ARTWINNINGPIECEYoung Brits at Art 2009 is a competition hosted by theEquality and Human Rights Commission, in which 11-19year-olds are invited to create pictures that express theirthoughts and feelings about living in Britain today. Youngpeople from all walks of life across England, Scotland andWales submit art work that tells their story: who they are,what they think, their hopes and fears, aims and ambitions.Ben Clarke, a young person who engaged with the RAPProgramme from 2007-2009, recently submitted a piece ofartwork to the competition. In early June he received thefollowing letter:“Dear Ben,Congratulations! You have been chosen as one of the100 finalists of our Young Brits at Art competition. Yourartwork was insightful, well crafted and stood out fromamong the 1,639 entries submitted by young peopleaged 11-19 from England, Scotland and Wales. We wereparticularly impressed by the way in which your artworkdescribes what it is like to be young and British today”,Ben attended the award ceremony at the SouthbankCentre in London on 2nd of July, with his RAP WorkerKieran Walsh, and was treated to a spectacular ‘Oscars’style presentation which drew media attention fromacross the nation. Ben’s story in particular was recentlywritten about in the Guardian newspaper.

pageTiernan Welch(Senior ISSP Advocate)Leicester Youth Offending Servicehas received four awards in total,which (considering only 10 pieceswere submitted) is a ‘phenomenalachievement’.Three of the awards were for individualsand one award is specifically for the‘Shoot Project’, which has beenheralded as a pioneering piece of work.Both the Shoot Project and Ben Clarkeachieved Platinum Awards, and willreceive £100 and a certificate - thereare only a handful given out despite6000+ submissions.The work was assessed by independentjudges, and the Koestler Awards wouldlike all the young people involved to bea part of their mentor scheme - andassured us that ‘whatever we’re doingright, keep doing it’.I would therefore like to acknowledgethe achievements of the Shoot Project,Ben Clarke, Abbie Gibson and OmarHakim and their workers.Chosen pieces of work will be exhibitedin London.Different stages to winning pieceEVERYWEDNESDAYVisualArts

VisualArtsCASESTUDYJohn Clarke - YOS Case Manager (Social Work)L is a young person (15 years old)known to me as his supervisingcaseworker at the Leicester CityYouth Offending Service (YOS)since October 2008.He has a lengthy and prolific criminal history, largely foroffences of high nuisance-value mainly local to his home area.He has notoriety for graffiti damage to business premises andschools and climbing and jumping off buildings and walls.This offending pattern has placed a significant burden uponlocal policing resources and caused distress to the localcommunity and neighbourhood. He has therefore beenconsidered for restrictions under Anti Social Behaviour Order(ASBO) legislation by the local police and housing department.L had also accumulated a history of disaffection from schooland prior to his involvement with the Leicester City YOS hadbeen excluded from his place of education after repeatedepisodes of poor behaviour including assaults on staff. It wasthought that he could only continue to be educated off site ina ‘virtual classroom’ using computer technology.L stated that his offending was linked to his level of boredomand was typically committed opportunistically and in thecompany of likeminded peers. He was not involved or affiliatedto constructive groups and activities.Arts programmes offer an ideal way formany of our young people to overcometheir disaffection with education,training or employment.John Kerry, Education Manager

pageProgress since October 2008L responded well to his supervision under robust conditionsset by the Court. He has engaged in offending behaviourwork, Victim Empathy and constructive leisure activities.This has included work that recognised his interests andtalents and through the support at Soft Touch, creative artsproject designing his own trainers and has considered howthis would be marketed. He has been offered the opportunitythrough the Challenge and Support Project to participate in agraffiti mural undertaken at the local National Association forthe Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) offices.This project, assisted by ‘reformed’ graffiti artists, illustratedthe positive/negative aspects of youth and L played acrucial part in design and completion. L has also recentlybeen involved in a project local to his home area, sprayingimages on the construction boards of a building in progress,highlighting the themes associated with libraries andcommunity. Whilst all these efforts have been of a highstandard and application. The latter is particularly salientgiven L’s previous pattern of offending, illegally sprayinglocal buildings (including a library) to the annoyanceof local residents.In addition to the above I am happy to report that L’sprolific offending rate has significantly reduced and aftera successfully supported period at an individual leaningcentre he has begun this academic year back in mainstreameducation. The need for criminal anti-social behaviourrequirements has also abated and L is now working voluntarilywith the local ABSO unit to refrain from further offending.I feel strongly that in order that L should continue to progressit is crucial that opportunities needs to be presented toencourage him to be involved in ways he can legitimatelyexpress himself artistically and constructively, preferablywithin his local community.FundersFunded by Challenge and Support Unit at LeicesterAnti Social Behaviour Unit in partnership with NACRO.CASESTUDYVisualArts

VisualArtsREPARATIONPOSTERPROJECT“This series of posters wasproduced by a young personas part of his Referral Order.Completing the posters madeup some of his Reparationhours as they were designedto be displayed in placesfrequented by other youngpeople to teach them aboutdecision making.The young person carried out this work having first engagedin sessions on decision making and understandingconsequences with his Youth Offending Service Officer.The posters thus served a dual purpose of cementing thelessons he had learnt whilst also benefiting the communityby promoting positive messages to other young people.”Paul KiggellReferral Order CoordinatorLeicester City Youth Offending Service

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Too often our involvement with young people iscoercive and compulsory in nature and does not giveus a chance to explore their creative interests.Gerry Moloney, Team Manager, Duty and AssessmentDramaPages 22 to 29

BAREDRAMAGang Prevention TheatreType of Activity Drama (Gang Prevention Initiative) -Theatre-in-EducationAimTo empower young people to recognisethe dangers and consequences ofinvolvement in gang membership andassociated crimesObjectives • raise awarenessPartnersProject Manager• enable young people to identify,assess and discuss risk factors• equip them with resources and tosupport professionalsThe Y (Leicester YMCA) and Women &Theatre (Birmingham)Thomas WildishDirector/Theatre Manager (The Y)Education Amy Wale, Education Officer (The Y)ActorsDirectorTarget Age GroupEvaluationTourLeicester SchoolsFundingKim Charnock, Marcus Hecules,Vikash PatelMichael Aduwali (Women & Theatre)Schools 11-12 year oldsinvited audience including Leicester YouthOffending ServiceThe Y - East Street, LeicesterThe YThe YBabington Community College, NewCollege, Keyham Lodge, Moat CommunityCollege, Individual Learning Centre (PRU)Safer Leicester Partnership,Leicester Youth Offending Service andArts Council EnglandpageBackgroundIn 2008 meetings withLeicestershire Police identifiedthat there was little preventionwork on the threat of gangs.It was agreed that Leicesterdid not have a serious gangcrime problem, however, thepolice and other agenciesidentified a need forpreventative education totackle emerging issues inthe city.Drama

DramaBare Drama: the programmeThe Y commissioned and co-produced a piece of theatrecalled Bare Drama, with workshops and an education packfor schools. It was designed to empower young people torecognise the dangers and consequences of getting involvedin gang membership and associated crimes. Bare Dramatoured to year 7 pupils (age 11 and 12) in 6 schools inpriority areas of Leicester in November 2008. This is the onlytheatre in education project in Leicester dealing with theissue of gangs.The 45 minute play centred on Sparks, Diesel and Ash, threefriends hanging out on an inner-city estate, and the decisionsthey face. The drama helped the young people to exploredifficult issues.Following the drama, 1 hour of creative workshops weredelivered with the young people, meaning they were able toquestion the actions of the characters to develop their ownsolutions for their problems. These workshops were followedby a 15 minute feedback session where the students sharedtheir views.We started by looking at current research on gangs anddrawing on the knowledge and experiences of lots of differentpeople in Leicester, including; young offenders, youthworkers, Leicestershire Police, Leicester Youth OffendingService, Connexions, Perpetuity (researchers) and LeicesterCity Council.How we made Bare DramaAs the drama script, workshops and education packdeveloped we asked these people for their opinions again andinvited them to rehearsals. The person in charge of Citizenshipat Leicester City Council became a project consultant to makesure it would fit with the school curriculum.Women & Theatre, a company based in Birmingham, wereasked to produce the drama script and workshops. The playwriter and director, Michael Aduwali, developed the languageand storyline with the help of different groups of youngpeople, including young offenders, to make sure it was rightfor Leicester.The results of Bare DramaA total of 414 young people took part and 65 professionalsalso attended a performance including teachers, youthoffending workers, youth workers, youth magistrates and thePolice. Responses to the workshop and feedback showedthat the programme had a major impact in schools. In theworkshops young people voiced opinions showing theirawareness had grown or changed:• Young person: “If you hadn’t taken the package Spark’swouldn’t have got stabbed” [to Ash]• Teacher: “The vast majority of students could contributeto the discussions in the workshops. The sessionwas a useful springboard for further discussion inthe classroom.”Because the project allowed people to open up and talk aboutthese issues, two young people were identified as beingat risk and referred to further support. Six months after theproject six students attended a Youth Offending Conferenceto talk about Bare Drama. There was a high level of recall ofthe story and characters and they remembered clearly whatthey had recommended. It is clear their participation andownership of these solutions will be carried with them asthey grow up.

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DramaProject WorkersPartnersTarget Age GroupPerformance VenuesFundingTHECONTACTPROJECTDrama and Multi-MediaNikki O’Brien: Project ManagerGavan Wilmot: Youth Project LeaderSoft Touch: sound bites radio dramabased project, Spark festival: streetdancing performance with Hip HopCollective, St Matthews Clean Up:in partnership with local police andhousing which involved the creationof a large street graffiti mural,Masaya Link Project: art and spokenwork project that looked at the linkbetween young people in Leicesterand Masaya in Nicaragua, Sing up:national singing learning initiative,Lyric Lounge: creative writing andspoken word performance as part ofthe Special Olympics 2009 festivalNational Youth Theatre: auditionsthrough the support of theproject teamSchools 11-19 year oldsThe Contact Project, St MatthewsEstate, The YLeicester City Council, Action forChildren and Lloyds TSB CommunityDevelopment Programme,Yoppital WongaThe use of the Arts in theContact Project programmeSince the project’s inceptionthe use of the arts has beenan integral tool in overallservice from large scalepartnership projects tosmaller scale local projects.We recently won an awardfor the best communityparticipatory act in theLeicester Comedy Festival2009 with the support ofRob Gee a local arts/comedic performer.The project created a short drama film titled `Checkmate` in2008 that looked at the issues of gangs and violent crimeand how that affects the individual and community. It wasshowcased at the Phoenix, with the entire process of storycreation to editing to score creation done by local youngpeople from St Matthews. The project can programme moreinformal sessions that form part of the collective or individualprogramme such as art work and music beat-making onthe Mac. Throughout the years our arts programmes haveinvolved young people with experience of youth offendingservices and have found the opportunities provide greatvehicles in which to express themselves through acting/performing, writing poetry, painting, singing, etc. Theoutcomes of these programmes have had long lastingbenefits in terms of confidence building and assisting youngpeople to explore their potential and ability to work withothers in a positive and safe environment.Who are the Contact Project?The Contact Project is a voluntary Children and Youth Projectthat is based on the St Matthews Estate in Leicester. Theproject began in 1997 and has built a very positive reputationover the years in the local area working closely with children/young people aged 5-19+ and families. The project hasgrown and through successfully funding application providesa city wide complementary service for the Leicester citycouncil to those young people aged 11-19 who are at risk orare NEET. We work with numerous statutory and voluntaryagencies in supporting the needs of young people includingeducation authorities, social care and health, local police,YOS, Sure Start, youth services, arts organisations andmany others. The project’s service is to provide one to onementoring and small group activities that help develop thesocial and personal needs of young people in order to assistthem to overcome barriers they may face in their lives. Weuse the getting connected social and personal developmentaccreditation development programme. The majority ofcosting for our present and past arts programme has comefrom mainstream funding and we obtain short term one offfunding opportunities that are available e.g. Yoppital Wonga tohelp with our filming equipment and Mac.

pageSilent MovieFilming scene onpark involvinglocal youngpeople from theSt MatthewscommunityDrama

ackDramaThese are some highlights of artsbased work we have undertakenin the past 4-5 yearsThe project undertaken under the Leicester Comedy Festival2006 was Keystone Cop Silent Movie. We created comedicscenes that linked to anti-social behaviour involving a numberof famous characters both vintage and contemporary.The entire process was created through staging variousworkshops, and involved multi-media professionals workingalongside the youth project staff. The final event was shownto a community audience along with an animated shortfeature. The entire process and finished product providedexciting learning opportunities for the individuals involved thatwas showcased to a wider audience while providing innovateways of approaching and discussing community themes suchas anti-social behaviour.Silent MovieFilming scene on park involvinglocal young people from theSt Matthews communityThis project was undertaken under the Leicester ComedyFestival 2005 Smoking Cessation Week. The process createda comic book over the week that linked the theme of stoppingsmoking involving young people making their own storyboard and characters integrated into a final comic. The entireprocess was created through staging various workshops witha professional comic book artist working alongside the youthproject staff and the young people. There was a workshopthat used photography to highlight how smoking can affectpersonal appearance. The final event involved smokingcessation professionals using various methods of practiceto highlight the impact of smoking on health. Young peoplecreated some comedic scenes they enacted at the final eventlinked to the theme and shown to a community audience.The entire process and finished product provided excitinglearning opportunities for the individuals involved that wasshowcased to a wider audience while providing innovate waysof approaching and discussing community themes such asAnti Social Behaviour and Smoking.PhotographyWorkshopthat looked atcapturing theeffects of smokingon personalappearances.The final event involved NHS professionals using activitiesto highlight health issues in relation to smoking and youngpeople acting out comic drama scenes involving the nationalanti smoking character.

pageThis project called `Checkmate` linked to themes of gun andknife crime/gangs and its impact upon the individual andthe community. Young People created the storyline throughworkshops and were involved in filming, editing and creatingthe sound track. The final product was a feature length filmthat was showcased at the Phoenix and was attended by theLord Mayor, who stated that it was one of the best youth artsprogrammes he had ever seen. The project was demandingand exciting for all the participants. The young people’s senseof ownership over the entire project was inspiring and theywere very proud of the final film.“The Contact project has given me the confidence to perform on stage”Young male aged 14, 2009“The work we do with the project is always exciting and different”Young female aged 16, 2009“Well done on a massive success at The Y! You were all bar none -little stars! So many people have said how wonderful you all were.Thank you all very much for your hard work and commitment”Local female spoken word/poet performer, 2009DramaDrama

There is an increasing body of research evidencethat suggests that those with psychological damageand distress can find peace and calm through artisticexpression in its many forms and we should not underestimate what can be achieved and how empoweringit can be to discover a new talent or skill.Gerry Moloney, Team Manager, Duty and AssessmentPages 30 to 33

pageSHOOTNEWS-PAPERLocal Young People Tackle Gun & Knife Crime- Soft Touch ArtsA newspaper and podcastby young people for youngpeople. Funded by Mediaboxand The Y (Leicester YMCA)- Shoot! is a peer educationresource about gun and knifecrime created by young peoplewho have first hand knowledgeof how it affects them.The RAP and ISSP Youth Offending Service put in alot of time and effort to produce these pieces of peereducational resources. Soft Touch worked with youngpeople from the Leicester YMCA, East St, Aylestone andHinckley E2E as well as young people involved in otherSoft Touch projects.Whilst producing this newspaper the young peopleinvolved gained greater awareness of issues such asconsequences, victims, cultural experiences, poordecision making and much more.The idea for the project came from the young peoplethemselves. Several recent cases of young people caughtup in gun and knife got them talking and they decidedthey wanted to do something positive before thingsgot any worse.C, a young man on the project team who is under thesupervision of the Leicester Youth Offending Service aftercommitting a knife crime, said:“It’ll help people realise that in countries like Iran and Iraq,and in America too, you have to carry a gun to protectyourself, but not here. It’s helped me think twiceabout things”.The participants, many of whom are not in mainstreameducation also learnt graphic design, photography andsound recording.The launch of the Shoot Newspaper was held at theDirectors Lounge of the Cinema de Lux, Highcross Centre,Leicester and attended by various officials including theYouth Justice Board, City and Council representatives,Criminal Justice Systems etc.This newspaper is available from Soft Touch ArtsOrganisation and Leicester Youth Offending Service.Media

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EVERYFRIDAYSoft Touch Music Activities - Chris WigmoreEvery Friday young people withthe RAP and ISSP teams cometo Soft Touch Arts and get theopportunity to be creative.They can work on differentarts, media, music activitiesand other challenges whilstbuilding their skills, confidenceand self esteem in a supportiveand welcoming environment.This happens through a partnership between Soft Touch andthe Youth Offending Service which has been going since2005 and involves our arts workers and the young people’sadvocates working together to meet the needs and creativeaspirations of young people involved with the Leicester YOS.Soft Touch also run regular music sessions, where oncea week young people have full access to individual musicstudios and get the chance to write, record and producetheir own work. This has always been an extremely popularsession and has led to many local and national events, withyoung people performing their own tracks in front of manydifferent audiences. The project has also seen young peoplecreate their own radio show which they write and performthemselves. In recent years there has also been a lot ofinvolvement with major events such as the Summer Sundaefestival, where young people have had their own stage andhave helped to promote the youth music scenevto a completely new audience.Young people who attend on a regular basis get theopportunity to work towards the Arts Awards and we havebeen able to offer work experience and progression to peermentor roles for some young people.pageMusic

MusicCASEThe work on these pages showsthe talents of the young peopleSTUDYKaneA major education andemployment achievement hasbeen our success in supportingyoung people to progressfrom project participant topeer mentor. Through securinglonger term arts and musicprogrammes we have beenable to offer opportunities forprogression which are makinga real difference to individuals’creative abilities, confidence,personal developmentand preparation for furthereducation and employment.A successful joint bid submitted to Youth Music in 2005with the Leicester Youth Offending Service’s RAP Team,resulted in a two-year project called ‘Holding it Down’. TheYouth Offending Service have continued this funding andwe have worked with over 100 young people, giving themaccess to music production, song writing and performanceopportunities. One young man, Kane, has shown exceptionaltalent, skill and leadership and against the odds has turnedhis offending behaviour around by taking on the role of peermentor. He is now passing on his skills to young peopleinvolved in other Soft Touch music projects including theregular Friday YOS music sessions.Chris WigmoreListen to her speak (n, 2005)a girl walking along the street, looking prettyf****ed up, would you believeBeing there, in the wet and cold, knowing herpain is deepPlease somebody keep her safe from theseconcrete streetsSad and lonely nowhere to go in the cold and rainknowing her parents are in so much painWhat is she thinking, seems so confused, cryingout for help ‘coz of getting abusedNo-one’s listening to how she feels, all she sees isa world of bubblesLet her speakListen to her wordsThen you’ll understand why she’s so hurtLet her speakListen to her wordsThen you’ll understand why she’sso hurtKane“My name is Kane, I live in Aylestone and I’m 18. I came to Soft Touch on the RAP music and arts sessions when I was 15. I now help onprojects. I am an extra pair of hands and also a role model to other young people. I used to be a criminal but I changed my ways. If the peoplewho come to the projects see someone else who used to be like them and they think ‘he’s got something now, all through being good, so Icould end up doing something similar’ then that could help them”.

pageMy Late NightsSometimes I spend my quiet nights…on a hill,staring at a city with bright lightsThe only thing I got is my brother,to hold onTill the police on the streets tell usto roll onThere was time when I used to struggleAnd music, we had to hustleLate night streets where we always see beefMusic was the main key that broughtall the griefEven I thought life was hardLove wasn’t there because it was too farLife in the rap gameSpit rhyme for respect, what won’teven changeEven we get stressedWe need to hold tightThis is what I do with my late nightsHope with Godthere is one nightthing that did not go rightheart and the soul did not make it tightdidn’t even make it to the next lightknock on the door to tell me you was gonethat’s why am writing this songto let my friend know how longyour friendz and me are staying strongnothing we can do only God is number oneI thought God is here where you need himhe didn’t help my friend Mark when he stoppedbreathing‘tell me God’ what is the real reasonpray most nights felt like you wasjust leavingnothing left to bless and nothing left to seewaking up in the morning streets saying r.i.pAnthony RavenAnthony RavenLyrics submitted by Philip Archard - ISSP AdvocateCD Cover & Designs - OmarMusicback

SummerArtsCollegePages 38 to 43Engaging in the arts can play a major part so thatyoung people can create a sense of identity and aplace in life in which they belong.Bruce Harrison, Manager, Community Supervision Team

pageType of ActivityPartnersVisual Arts, Music, Drama, Dance,Film and Media, Graffiti, Arts AwardLeicester Youth Offending Service,Youth Justice BoardProject Management (08)Kieran Walsh (RAP Worker) andBronwen Barradell (ISSP Advocate) -including support staff, volunteers andISSP AdvocatesProject Management (06/07)Brian Simmonds (ISSP Advocate)Project Worker (06/07)Nigel Richards (Music Technology)- including basic skills tutor, 8 ISSPAdvocates (rota system),Connexions Personal AdviserArtists (08)Artists (06/07)Kieran Walsh (Digital Arts, Sculpture),Claire Brody (Dance), Louise Jaggard(Drama), Leigh Drummond (Graffiti),Neale Craston (Graffiti) On-Point FilmsOn-Point Films, Send Project (Music),Geeta Jaldevi (Visual Artist), Kieran Walsh(Visual Artist), 27a Arts Space(Mixed Media)Age Group 14-19 years old (approximately 10young people attend)Venues 08Braunstone Grove, Community Centre,Braunstone, Leicester07 African Caribbean Centre, MaidstoneRoad, Leicester/Watershed Music Studios06 African Caribbean Centre,Maidstone Road, LeicesterEvaluationYouth Justice Board, EcotecShowcases (06/07/08)Celebration Ceremony, The LeicesterCreative Business Depot (LCB Depot),African Caribbean CentreFundingYouth Justice Board, Arts Council EnglandOn-Point FilmsFilming sceneSummer ArtsCollege 2008Summer Arts College

Summer Arts CollegeBackgroundSummer Arts Colleges area cornerstone of the YouthJustice Board and ArtsCouncil England’s strategicpartnership.The delivery of Summer Arts Colleges is managed by Unitas.Summer Arts Colleges have been running since 2005.They provide a structured arts programme and run for sixweeks, 25 hours per week of arts-based activity over thesummer holiday, using the Arts Enrichment resources.They are for young people on an Intensive Supervision andSurveillance Programme (ISSP) and/or a Detention andTraining Order (DTO). The young people on the programmewould have spent a significant period of time away frommainstream education, thus engaging them in a meaningfularts programme.These Colleges:• deliver a stimulating and rewarding arts experience• work with the arts to improve literacy andnumeracy skills• explore possible routes into employment and careerswithin the arts and creative industries• facilitate transition back into mainstream education,training and employment• offer a qualification through the Arts Award (a nationallyaccredited award which recognises how youngpeople develop artistic, creative, leadership andcommunication skills).To date, nationally 57 Summer Arts Colleges have takenplace. The evaluation data has demonstrated the followingpositive outcomes:• A significant reduction in offending during and after theSummer Arts Colleges• An improvement in literacy and numeracy skills• A significant increase in educational engagementduring and following the Summer Arts Colleges• The achievement of a national Level 1 accreditation -Bronze Arts Award.In addition to these key outcomes, the Summer ArtsColleges can provide the 25 hours of education, training andemployment that YOS and YOTs must arrange for youngpeople on ISSP or a DTO, at a time of year when educationor training provision, such as schools or colleges, may beclosed. They also provide YOS and YOTs with the time toarrange placements for young people, starting in September.“I worked as a lead artist on the 2007 Summer College andCo-Programme Manager alongside Bronwen Barradell (ISSPAdvocate), in Summer College 2008, working mainly in digitalarts. Over the six week period I watched the young peopledevelop a completely new set of skills and explore their owncreativity in ways they had not done previously. In doing sothey also gained a lot more self confidence and belief in theirown ability. For me this is exactly what the Summer Collegesare about.”Kieran WalshArts Worker/Lead Artist/RAP Worker

pageSummer Arts College 2008Summer Arts College

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Education Training & EmploymentEDUCATIONTRAINING&EMPLOY-MENTJohn Kerry - Education ManagerEducation, Training &Employment (ETE) is oneof eight management areaswithin the Leicester City YouthOffending Service (YOS) whichsupport young people whoare involved with the YouthJustice System.The purpose of all ETE Team members including ConnexionsStaff is to help and encourage this particular group ofvulnerable young people to re-engage with education,training or employment and by so doing, signpost theway to a better future.The way this is achieved is by building trust with the youngperson and by helping Case Managers find the mostappropriate form of ETE for their young person. By offeringspecialist advice, guidance and mentoring, it is anticipatedthat the young person will find an activity that appeals andthat will survive the test of sustained engagement.Supported by staff who understand the need to empathiseand work alongside young people, the importanceof embedding Arts programmes into ‘the basket ofopportunities’ that are consistently available at the YOS,cannot be over estimated. Past experiences show that theseprogrammes work and can go a very long way towardsreintegrating previously alienated young people,back into the community.

pagePERFOR-MANCEINDICATORSOverview on Arts andPerformance in EducationTraining and EmploymentThe Arts programme is anexcellent example of hownew opportunities openingthemselves up to vulnerableyoung people can make areal difference. Young peoplecan enjoy a completely newexperience and learn a greatdeal about both themselvesand their local community at thesame time. For most it’s a ‘win,win’ situation.Over the past two years full time engagement in education,training and employment for young people working with theCity Youth Offending Service has increased by 18% (64%average for 2007, 82% average for 2009). This improvementhas largely come about because of an increase in attractiveopportunities available to young people and because the YOShas improved its own lines of communication with partners.This has been strengthened by a closer partnership betweenthe YOS and the Arts Development post based at The Y,(Leicester YMCA). To ensure the embedment of the arts,current good practice needs to be built upon to guaranteecontinued success in the future.2008-09These figures include young people involved inarts-related activities.Overall a total of approximately 31 young people haveengaged with arts-related activity which represents 9.5%of the YOS caseload managed in the community.The YOS has continued to make improvementsin ETE engagement during 2007-08 and 2008-09following the appointment of a dedicated YOSETE Manager.Performance Indicators

Arts Development Officer - ReflectionCHALLENGINGOFFENDINGBEHAVIOURWITH ACREATIVETWISTBeverley Sterling (Arts Development Officer - Youth Offending)Arts intervention and preventionsshould not be seen as a solutionfor challenging offendingbehaviour, but it can be usedas part of a process to addressoffending actions.As arts activities are oftengeared to explore self andgroup expression, this processof engagement challengesoffending behaviour by offeringalternatives to dealing withcustodial sentences.This process is very complex as ‘arts development’ and LeicesterYouth Offending Services create a partnership to understand eachother’s worlds when working together to create opportunitiesfor young people to access the arts, and for arts to work withinchallenging environments. The Arts Development Post (ADO)based at The Y (Leicester YMCA) has strategically brokeredpartnerships to establish a way of working which supports the arts,artists and Leicester Youth Offending Service to achieve a commonvision which is to embed the arts within the Service. This threeyear post which ends in 2010, has only scratched the surface of anarea of development work that has the potential to be long-termand creatively beneficial for young offenders, the service and itsstakeholders. The main aim of this post is to effectively embed thearts at YOS. This can only be achieved when the desired outcomesof the YOS Arts Programme are put alongside a framework. Specificgoals need to be clearly indicated at the outset, to keep youngpeople interested and motivated as well as to challenge theiroffending behaviour.It has been a slow process which is still ongoing, but thisslow developmental phase has been important to define andunderstand what works for Leicester Youth Offending Serviceusing the arts. This area of work is not only about increasedactivity but about developing a working environment whichis receptive and conducive to existing work as well as newinitiatives. Therefore some development although alreadyformally acknowledged will remain ‘invisible’.Some of these arts practices are illustrated in ‘Challenging‘Challenging Offending Behaviour with a Creative Twist’, aims to exploreways in which art practices that have been delivered, can be sharedwith the intention that there is greater awareness and understanding, sothat effective practices can be adopted, appropriate support earmarkedto improve artistic interventions and preventative activities for youngpeople at Leicester Youth Offending Service.Offending Behaviour with a Creative Twist.’ Some activitieshave been informal, undocumented and carried out byartists and YOS staff delivering art sessions together withtheir own work load. Others have been formalised andstructured since the onset of the ADO post to enable YOSstaff to utilise the arts as an ideal vehicle in communicatingwith young people in a creative way and for the work to beincluded in wider YOS’ work and performance indicators.This creative approach has set a precedent in determiningbest practice for arts organisations and practitioners workingwith Leicester Youth Offending Service to assist some ofthe creative responsibilities that may have been carried outby Case Managers, Session Leaders, Advocates, RAP Staffand other YOS Staff in their work. Strategically, there stillneeds to be a greater awareness on the basic provisions,resources, support and demands when programming artsactivities and greater support given to young people toachieve positive outcomes. But the ADO post has identifiedthat this process may not always be possible and therefore‘Challenging Offending Behaviour with a Creative Twist’, aimsto explore ways in which successful art practices can beshared, understood and adopted with appropriate supportearmarked to improve artistic interventions and preventativeactivities. This can only be achieved if good workingrelationships are established and continued support forarts activities happens throughout the process to meetagreed objectives.Beverley SterlingArts Development Officer (Youth Offending)The Y, Leicester YMCA

pageWHY WEBELIEVE INTHE ARTSThe Youth Offending Service is about changing minds,thought processes and signposting young people to make theright choices and pro-social choices and engaging in the artscan play a major part so that young people can create a senseof identity and a place in life in which they belong.Too often our involvement with young people is coerciveand compulsory in nature and does not give us a chance toexplore their creative interests. If we are able to give themone opportunity to experience something new to them whichis able to give them a chance to be seen in a different lightby those around them they will surely benefit. So many of ouryoung people are held back by emotional and behaviouralproblems and are beset by learning difficulties which resultin Special Educational Needs which so often go unmet.Challenging Offending Behaviour with a Creative Twist canhopefully point us to arts projects that our young people haveor can be involved. This offers case managers the chance tobalance the more punitive aspects of our work opening up newways of building positive relationships.I believe that through the arts we change the way we are seenby young people opening up greater opportunities to bringabout behavioural change. I take this opportunity to encourageall of you to identify those young people, especially those whohave missed out at school, who could respond to a challengeand seek out the creative aspects of their character whichotherwise may never be discovered. There is an increasingbody of research evidence that suggests that those withpsychological damage and distress can find peace and calmthrough artistic expression in its many forms and we shouldnot underestimate what can be achieved and how empoweringit can be to discover a new talent or skill.Please take a look at what has already been achieved and seeif you can match the needs of at least one young person onyour caseload and I predict that the result will encourage youto repeat the effort required again and again. Beverley Sterling(Arts Development Officer) has now joined the Leicester YouthOffending Services’ Participation Forum and this will hopefullygive the service more options to creatively seek the viewsof young people and their carers in reshaping YOS servicesthrough the arts.Gerry MoloneyTeam Manager, Duty & Assessment | YOSArts Programmes offer an ideal way for many of our youngpeople to overcome their disaffection with education, trainingor employment. They are attractive and flexible in content,excitingly presented, focused on the real world, accessible toyoung people, motivationally inspiring, personally rewardingand above all, different, challenging and exciting - in otherwords they are often a ‘must do’ for young people who havehad a series of very negative ETE experiences in the past.Over the past two years an excellent working relationshiphas evolved between the Arts Development Officer, BeverleySterling, and the ETE Manager at Leicester City YOS. Jointplanning meetings have contributed significantly to the ArtsDevelopment Framework and the ETE Action Plan for 2008-09-10. Ensuring that attractive Arts programmes continue tohave a place at the opportunities table for young offenders reengagingwith education and training forms a crucial part ofthe on-going partnership work currently being developed.This work will continue into 2010.John KerryEducation Manager | YOSArts based intervention need to be delivered to youngpeople in response to their learning styles, YOS staff areencouraged to undertake a VARK assessment with youngpeople to identify learning styles. Activities such as story boardintervention allows the use of pictures and drawings to helpexplore key areas of effective practice. Staff at the YOS wouldbenefit from a resource list for intervention accessing andusing arts based sessions. Arts based intervention is also veryuseful for evidence on what intervention has been completedand kept in files.Short focused arts projects are more successful than longterm projects as they tend to lose their focus over time.Simon BoothEnhanced Supervision Team Manager | YOSBruce HarrisonManager, Community Supervision Team | YOSThrough the arts, many of the young people on orders withthe YOS, and particularly those on the Intensive Supervisionand Surveillance Programme have managed to channel theirtalents and complete meaningful activities in a way that theyhave enjoyed. Enjoyment is an idea that often seems to notquite fit our image as punitive, yet if a young person can gainthe confidence to remove themselves from offending via drama,music, sketching, painting or dancing, this must be noted andpromoted! The young people that my team support are someof the most prolific and serious young offenders in the Cityand County and to see them gaining arts awards, performinga piece of music in a public arena or making a short film istruly inspiring. Those young people who are on the custodythreshold are often seen as being so very difficult to engage,yet look what can be achieved with the right support and thecreativity that arts allows us to use. Having Beverley workingalongside the YOS further allows us to channel youth creativityand progress as a service that not only meets young offendersand families needs but has a positive impact on the widercommunity in a lasting way.Sarah WhittleIntensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme Manager | YOSThe numbers of opportunities for young people to engagein Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) are on theincrease. We are looking to offer a wide range of providers andover the last two years the growth of Dance and Music hasseen a development in widening different types of activitiesfor young people. On the community front, all youth centresshould have outstanding world class facilities with a range ofprofessionals and built-in-services which link into the YouthOffending Services, Arts, Health - a multitude of providersincluding sexual health projects 7 days a week 24 hours a day -all under one roof.Fiona WestonOperations Manager | Leicester City Council Youth ServicesWhy we believe in the arts

Directory & Interesting WebsitesArts Council England - East Midlands OfficeSt Nicholas Court, 25-27 Castle Gate, Nottingham NG1 7ART: 0845 300 6200F: 0115 950 2467W: www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication_archive/the-arts-and-youngpeople-at-risk-of-offending/W: www.artscouncil.org.uk/regions/east-midlands/Big Difference CompanyLCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1RET: 0116 261 6812E: info@bigdifferencecompany.co.ukW: www.bigdifferencecompany.co.ukContact Project25 Kamloops Crescent, St Matthews, Leicester LE1 2HXT: 0116 262 2727F: 0116 262 9410Nikki O’BrienProject ManagerE: no@contactproject.org.ukDIRECTORYLeicester Anti Social Behaviour UnitChallenge & Support CoordinatorPO Box 6633, Leicester LE4 1WNT: 0116 229 3620Leicester City Youth Offending ServiceEagle House, 11 Friar Lane, Leicester LE1 5RBT: 0116 299 5830F: 0116 233 6003E: youth.offending.service@leicester.gov.ukConnexions Staff have referred young people on to thefollowing arts programmes:Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP)Leicester City Council Youth Services3rd Floor, 10 York Road, Leicester LE1 5TST: 0116 229 4363Fiona WestonOperations ManagerE: fiona.weston@leicester.gov.ukSoft Touch Arts120a Hartopp Road, Leicester LE1 1WFT: 0116 270 2706F: 0116 274 5824E: info@soft-touch.org.ukW: www.soft-touch.org.ukWing Productions House115 Burnmoor Street, Leicester LE2 7JLT: 01455 283 108E: john@wingproductionhouse.comCourses in creative and performing arts: dancing, acting, film, music,fashion, visual art, photography, make-up and sound engineering.The Y, Leicester YMCA7 East Street, Leicester LE1 6EYT: 0116 255 6507F: 0116 255 6509E: artsdev@leicesterymca.co.ukW: www.ytheatre.co.ukW: www.leicesterymca.co.ukGavan WilmotYouth Project LeaderE: gw@contactproject.org.ukHarsha AchrayaYouth Project MentorE: ha@contactproject.org.ukAdrian RamkissoonYouth Project MentorE: ar@contactproject.org.ukSoar Valley Music CentreE2E programme focused on music and creative industries72 Nursery Road, Thurnby Lodge, Leicester LE7 9UQT: 0116 266 4153/0116 243 2966W: www.musicentre.co.ukChris DunnE2E Training Provider

INTERESTINGWEBSITESpageAnne Peaker Centre for Arts Criminal Justice SystemAlly WalshArts Manager20 Newburn Street, London SE11 5PJT: 0207 735 6831E: artsmanager@apcentre.org.ukW: www.apcentre.org.ukArts Alliancewww.artsalliance.org.ukThe Arts Alliance is a national body whose purpose is to improvecommunication and broker relationships between artists andorganisations working with the Criminal Justice Sector, offendersand ex-offenders, prison and probation staff, and relevantgovernment personnel.For more general enquiries, please contact the Anne Peaker Centre,Secretariat to the Arts Alliance.Bridget Edwards, CEO Anne Peaker Centre20 Newburn Street, London SE11 5PJT: 0207 735 6831E: CEO@apcentre.org.ukGeese Theatre CompanyWoodbridge House, 9 Woodbridge Road, Birmingham B13 8EHT: 0121 449 6222F: 0121 449 1333E: mailbox@geese.co.ukW: www.geese.co.ukGeese Theatre Company is a team of actors and group workers whopresent interactive drama and conduct workshops, staff training andconsultation within the Criminal Justice System. The company has aninternational reputation for innovative work with offenders and youth atrisk and since 1987 has worked in more than 150 custodial institutionsand with 42 probation areas. During this time, we have worked withmore than 150,000 offenders and 30,000 other individuals.Women & TheatreThe Friends Institute, 220 Moseley Road, Birmingham B12 0DGT: 0121 440 4203F: 0121 446 4280E: info@womenandtheatre.co.ukAward-winning Women & Theatre has established a nationalreputation over 25 years for producing well-researched and sharplyobserved pieces of original and exciting theatre on themes ofcontemporary relevance. By dramatising subjects at the cuttingedge of people’s consciousness we create accessible theatrethat people want to see.DIRECTORY&WWWsDirectory & Interesting Websites

AcknowledgementsACKNOW-LEDGEMENTSAcknowledgementsTo all contributors, Leicester YOS, partners, young creative minds,artists and those interested in the arts by young people.Art WorkAll Illustrations by young people from Leicester Youth OffendingService (YOS) unless otherwise stated.Published byThe Y (Leicester YMCA) - Arts Development (Youth Offending).Design & ProductionAmbasa Bandelex.dmT: 0845 625 0265www.x-dm.com© CopyrightAll editorial content and images by young people are heldby the publishers and Leicester Youth Offending Service.Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden without the writtenpermission of the publishers and Leicester Youth Offending Service.The publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss or damageto unsolicited material.DisclaimerWe have made every effort to make sure the information in thisbook is accurate and useful at the time of publication. Readers areadvised that the information contained in this book is of a generalnature and the authors and publishers do not accept any liability forits use in conjunction with a commercial or other decision, nor forerrors or omissions.

The Y, Leicester YMCA7 East Street, Leicester LE1 6EYT: 0116 255 6507F: 0116 255 6509E: artsdev@leicesterymca.co.ukW: www.ytheatre.co.ukW: www.leicesterymca.co.uk

CHALLENGING OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR WITH A CREATIVE TWIST