Terriers set to lead children away from gang crime

A play designed to show the stark reality of becoming involved with gangs and guns, which has been successfully used as part of the Key Stage 3 English curriculum in Liverpool and Knowsley, is to be rolled out at secondary and primary schools in Sefton.   The play and supporting educational resource, commissioned by Merseyside Police in 2008, shows the consequences of becoming involved with guns and gangs and the difficult decisions that young people can face.

Terriers, was written by local playwright Maurice Bessman and has been produced by Miriam Mussa. Ariel Trust created and developed the educational support packages. And so far more than 30,000 secondary school children in Liverpool and Knowsley and have seen the play and studied it as part of the national curriculum.

Thanks to support and funding secured by Matrix from Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Liverpool DISARM, Cobalt Housing, Liverpool Mutual Homes, Rhys Jones Memorial Cup Trust, Merseyside Police and Liverpool Football Club the play is now being offered to primary and secondary schools across Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley.

The key stage 3 educational resource includes an interactive CD-rom (featuring scenes from the play) the script and 10 lesson plans. This means students can examine the play in detail and explore the moral dilemma some young people could find themselves faced with.  For the primary sector Merseyside Police commissioned Ariel Trust to develop a bespoke educational resource pack based on the key stage 2 national curriculum, and this too is creative, interactive and incorporates lesson plans for teachers to explore with pupils in relation to issues raised in the play.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Doherty, who heads up the specialist Matrix team, explained:- "Terriers was commissioned by Merseyside Police in 2008 using partnership funding, and since March 2009 it has been shown to more than 30,000 secondary and primary school children across Liverpool and Knowsley.  The play comes with an educational CD-Rom and the idea is that pupils see the play and study it in the classroom, as they would with Shakespeare or any other playwright. Following its introduction in to secondary schools 'The Terriers' project was fully evaluated. The evaluation showed an improvement in attititude and behaviour in respect of guns and gangs, an improved effort in the classroom whilst studying Terriers, and a marked improvement in attainment at Key Stage 3 English as a direct result of studying the play and using the educational resource. Locally and nationally we have seen increasing numbers of young people becoming involved in gangs with access to guns. We want to work with young people to warn them of the potential consequences and help them make the right decisions in the future. We originally put the play in to secondary schools, but we know some children as young as nine and 10 have older siblings involved in gangs with access to firearms and there is potential for them to align themselves to these gangs when they get older.  Working with our partners, we want to break this cycle and show young people there are choices they can make and people and organisations available who can help them make the right decisions. Children need to be warned of the dangers. We see first hand how teenagers involved with gun crime tend to live for today, with no thought of tomorrow, their families, or the communities they live in.  Terriers brings home the stark reality that people do die when guns are used and shows the devastating impact that guns can have on individuals and their families. It's not a video game where you fire and people get up and walk away. If you use a firearm the potential is that somebody won’t walk away; injuries from a gun can affect you for the rest of your life, and you could end up behind bars for a long time. It should be remembered that the overwhelming majority of our teenagers are not involved in criminality, nor guns and gangs. The wider the audience we get this across to the more likely we are to prevent some vulnerable young people from becoming involved in events they can't control."

Councillor Ian Moncur, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said:- "It is important to teach young people about the consequences of becoming involved in gangs who may have access to guns and Terriers is designed to show the reality of gun crime. The play and education package has been positively received by staff and pupils in Liverpool and Knowsley and will go a long way to helping young people in Sefton understand the impact that guns can have on their lives."

Cllr Ann O'Byrne, Liverpool City Coucnil cabinet member for community safety, said:- "It is very important that messages about guns and gangs get across to children at an early age. Terriers is an imaginative way of bringing home to the youngest pupils the consequences of getting involved in this sort of activity so I welcome the fact that it will be taken into primary school where, I am sure, it will be as well received as it has been in secondary schools."

Southport Round Table Gearing up for 2012

THE Southport Round Table are already gearing up for 2012 by opening its doors to new members in the run up to its busiest season.  As men across England, put away the barbeques, golf clubs and football boots, the organisation is firing up an early recruitment drive to give locals a new way to spend the winter months.  Whether they are organising major firework displays, working with BBC Children in Need or simply arranging a seriously big Christmas party, Round Tablers know how to brighten up those long dark days.  Jason Thomson, vice president of Round Table, said:- "With children back at school, adults returning to work after the holidays, and many sports seasons drawing to a close, history shows that men typically look for new social activities during the winter months.  As we’ve experienced a rather short summer this year, we’re kicking off our recruitment drive early to combat the lower temperatures and shorter days scuppering the after work plans of many blokes."

Round Table offers a wide range of social and sporting activities, often on a week night, such as go-karting, abseiling, shooting and tractor racing.  To make it easier for men to find out more about getting involved with their local table, the organisation has also released a dedicated new members’ contact to help with the process. To contact him email:- join@roundtable.co.uk.

Jason continued:- "Round Table is all about providing a fun and relaxed environment where men from all walks of life can socialise and get involved in a huge range of team activities and trips. We’re welcoming anyone who’s interested in joining to go along to their local Table and see what it’s all about. The more, the merrier!"

To find out more about Southport Round Table, including how to join visit:- roundtable.co.uk/findoutmore. For information about local firework displays being run by the Round Table in your area, visit:- roundtable.co.uk/fireworks.

Unfinished Lennon Song Recovered By Spanish Beatles Tribute Band

WEBSITE beatlebiz.com have issued a press statment saying that:- "A long-running Spanish band devoted to The Beatles, aptly named Los Escarabajos, (Spanish word for 'Beetles') has recorded 'Now And Then', an unfinished John Lennon song from 1979, that Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr tried in vain to complete back in 1996. It was for their 3rd volume of the Anthology Project. The Los Escarabajos released a version of this original in 2001 for their CD Lennonphile (The Album That John Could Never Record), but the current rendition captures the concept of the singles included in Anthology by the remaining Beatles:- 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love.' The 2011 remake of 'Now And Then' is presented with an animated work by Álvaro Ortega, reputable Spanish visual artist, who shows his own colourful style reminding us of the ever classic Yellow Submarine and the recent The Beatles: Rock Band. On the last World Animation Day, 28 October 2011, the song and video were published on YouTube, marking the 15th and 10th anniversaries of The Beatles' Anthology 3 and Los Escarabajos' Lennonphile respectively. In 2010, Los Escarabajos were given honorary degrees by the University of Seville for their work, having performed live the entire Beatles discography over the course of the Spanish group's 18 year history, which also celebrated its birthday this past 28 October 2011. The band was a headlining act at the International Beatle Week in Liverpool between 2003 and 2010." To see this fantastic video follow this link. Email us to:- news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you think of this song and animated work?

School pupils back adoption campaign

SCHOOL children at one of Liverpool’s newest schools are joining forces with the Lord Mayor to encourage families to consider adoption.  As part of National Adoption Week, on Friday 4 November 2011, pupils at Gateacre School will help Councillor Frank Prendergast release 30 balloons to signify the number of families the city council wants to recruit over 2012.   In 2009, the number of people in Liverpool who were approved to adopt went up from 34 to 42, and the number of children matched went up from 35 to 41.   But more families are always needed and at present there are around 50 children who are in care with adoption plans.  The Lord Mayor said:- "National Adoption Week gives us a great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of adoption and urge everyone in Liverpool who has been thinking about doing it to apply. All children need a happy, loving home, and that’s why adopting is one of the best things you can do."  The special event is part of the city council’s drive to raise awareness about the importance of adoption during National Adoption Week and find many more happy homes for local children.  The balloons have been provided by the Liverpool Taxi Drivers Kids in Care charity.  Children requiring adoption in Liverpool come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. People interested in adopting should visit:- liverpool.gov.uk/adoption or call:- 0151 233 3700.