WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Established in 2015, by Crimestoppers in the West Country and Unique Voice, the What Would You Do? (WWYD) project has proved highly successful in delivering effective crime prevention work with over 3000 children in the
South West. ‘What Would You do?’
Summary
The WWYD? project has expanded into many new communities across the South West and its innovative approaches to tackling topical themes using child appropriate language, characters, stories and music has been pioneering as an early intervention project.
Within weekly sessions young people experience social themes through participatory led work, sharing their knowledge through performances and films. This model has been successful in increasing crime being reported to Crimestoppers and ensuring community members live happy and safer lives in their neighbourhoods. Parents, teachers and young people alike have reported measurable changes to their outlook towards crime prevention and their confidence to speak out and stay safe on behalf of their community with the help of Crimestoppers.
What Would You Do?’ was created to encourage crime reporting and addressing community safety issues affecting children. Unique Voice designed an arts programme to explore specific issues affecting communities. This personalised practice lead to ‘WWYD?’ becoming an established collaboration between Unique Voice, West Country Crimestoppers and Bristol Police.
‘What Would You Do?’ has been delivered to over 40 primary schools, raising crime reporting and prevention awareness amongst children and their communities. To date the project has benefitted over 3000 children, 40 school communities and thousands of parents/carers and families. Finale performances have been attended by over 4,000 community members and films produced for WWYD have been watched over 90,000 times.
"What Would You Do? has given the children in our class an opportunity to develop their understanding of how to play an important role in their community. Through ongoing role plays and discussion, children have learnt what behaviour is acceptable and what is not.
More important, they have developed an understanding of what to do if they see people behaving in inappropriate and unacceptable ways.
They now know who crime stoppers are and how to contact them. The sessions have also helped the children develop their confidence in acting and sharing ideas in front of their peers. This has been a valuable experience. Thank you".
Gemma Darby
Year 5 Teacher at St Werburghs Primary School