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Young people encouraged to ‘tell, tell, tell’

“Tell, tell, tell” is the message from school children in Nuneaton who have developed a new campaign to encourage young people to speak out if they’re facing problems.

Five year six pupils from the Croft Junior School on Northumberland Avenue have been working with Warwickshire County Council’s Positive about Young People programme to raise awareness of issues such as bullying and domestic abuse – while reducing levels of anti-social behaviour.

Thanks to funding from Warwickshire Crimebeat, the team designed a banner and magnetic memo boards with the slogan ‘tell, tell, tell’ urging anyone affected to talk to a trusted adult such as their parents or teachers.

The merchandise was unveiled yesterday (30 November) during a special school assembly, attended by the High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Lady Kilmaine.

Zoe Hutchinson, Inclusion Support Worker for Positive about Young People’s Early Intervention/Prevention team, said: “The young people have worked incredibly hard on this project and have been really creative with their designs.

“We have given every pupil at the school a memo board to take home and are hoping to take our huge banner to other schools across the county to show other pupils about the importance of talking to someone, rather than keeping it bottled up inside.”

The High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Lady Kilmaine, said: “Warwickshire Crimebeat funds projects like these because they really can make a huge difference to the lives of young people and the communities they serve.

“Tell, tell, tell has been a fantastic success and I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the project for their efforts.”

Belinda Bollans, Headteacher at Croft Junior School, said: “Our children have very much enjoyed the learning sessions with Zoe and Clare, who trully live up to the name of the organisation they work for ‘Positive About Young People.

“The banner and wipeboards are the end result of some very focussed work on helping children to develop strategies to keep themselves safe, which I am sure they will benefit from now and in the future. As a school we are delighted to have been part of such a worthwhile project.”

Warwickshire Crimebeat is continually looking for groups of young people to apply for funding. For more information contact Mark Bolton, Operations Development Manager, on 02476 754174 or email markbolton@warwickshire.gov.uk.

To find out more information about Warwickshire County Council’s Positive about Young People programme or Warwickshire Crimebeat, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/payp.