12/01/2006
Your choice - Anti-social behaviour awareness conference
The aim of the conference was to improve `year 8 pupils' awareness of anti-social behaviour by providing them with a series of experiences to broaden their knowledge and understanding of its wide-ranging consequences.
The conference's objective was to make young people aware that they alone are responsible for their choice of behaviour and it is this idea that has grown in the major theme and conference title `Your Choice.`
The objectives of the conference were:
- for pupils to explore the consequences of anti-social behaviour in their community
- to learn key facts about to fire, road and rail safety; and
- to enable them to better empathise and understand problem issues experienced by the emergency services and partners.
The conference was co-ordinated by Merseytravel and funded and supported by Citysafe (Liverpool's Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership).
Other agencies involved included:
- Merseyside Police ( including the Mounted Division)
- Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
- Mersey Regional Ambulance Service
- British Transport Police
- Bus operators - Arriva & Stagecoach
- Parklands City Learning Centre.
The conference was opened by a performance from local rap band Systems D, followed by a drama piece from the Mojo Theatre Company which is a community based theatre company.
The theme of the play was entitled ` Charlie's Choice` and was based on the choices and the consequences of those choices for a boy named Charlie in a community very similar to the pupils community. This was followed by a morning and afternoon workshops facilitated by the attending agencies. The day was concluded with an evaluation of the day with the pupils and on how they felt about the concept of choices and consequences and how it can relate to anti-social behaviour within their community.
Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said: "The Your Choice conference shows young people the consequences of bad behaviour and how it affects people's lives and the work of public and emergency services - and it does it in a new and interesting way. The conference takes a great deal of planning by us and our partners, but that's what makes it one of the best examples of its type anywhere in the country."
Bill Morris, Head of Liverpool's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit said: "The aim of this conference is to bring home to young people what can actually constitute anti-social behaviour. The fact that this type of behaviour can take many forms and the effect that this behaviour can have, not only on the community in which they live, but also the environment.
The message aims to reinforce to pupils that acts of anti-social behaviour can affect the quality of life not only for themselves but for their families as well. "
For further information on the initiative please contact Billy Bradshaw from Merseytravel via email: billy.bradshaw@merseytravel.gov.uk
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