Merseyside Police’s Operation Payback uses money that has been seized under the ‘Misuse of Drugs Act’ to support local charities who work in our communities to protect children from crime. Today Op Payback’s Paul Doran presented a cheque to Ariel trust for the work that they have been doing to widen the impact of their 'Grassing or Grooming?' project.
'Grassing or Grooming?' is an educational programme delivered in 150 schools across Merseyside. Since the launch, this programme has been subject to independent evaluation, by experts at Liverpool John Moore’s University and they have been able to measure a series of very positive outcomes. The percentage of students agreeing that they would feel confident explaining what grooming means to a friend has changed dramatically:
These results have been delivered because drama is used as a teaching strategy, children step into the role of the bystander and practice skills they might use if one of their mates was being groomed. They learn a vocabulary that they can use to talk about issues, which many adults might find difficult. They then practice using that vocabulary by acting out a series of scenarios that have been developed with the support of Merseyside Police.
This creative approach works wonderfully in lots of schools but the evaluators have found that the project could have a greater impact if younger children where engaged. The money from Op Payback is being used to develop a new version of 'Grassing or Grooming?' specifically designed to be used in infant schools. Called, 'Telling tales or asking for help' this new intervention will be designed to help younger children develop positive help seeking behaviour.
Paul Ainsworth, the Director of Ariel Trust said, “we have to be very careful when doing violence reduction work with young children, we want to develop positive behaviour that prepares children for the challenges that lie ahead. However, we have to do that in a way that makes those children feel safe. Getting the message right requires lots of listening to children, parents and teachers. The money from Op Payback will pay for my team to work in partnership with those important groups of people.”
Detective Sergent Paul Doran Said, “It is gratifying to see the proceeds of crime being used to help protect children from the process of grooming”.
