STUDENTS have been praised as a true ‘class act’ by police in Kirklees after they put together a hard hitting play about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
Police in Huddersfield have commended students at Greenhead College for their hard work and talent after they wrote and delivered a drama to fellow students to warn them about the dangers of excess booze.
The youngsters performed the play last month to students at Colne Valley High School following 12 months of hard work with police to explore the effects excess alcohol consumption could have on their lives.
To prepare, the Greenhead students interviewed pupils at Colne Valley High School, and then wrote the drama which shows situations youths can find themselves in, the peer pressure they can face and demonstrates how alcohol can kill.
The initiative at Greenhead College has been part of a four-year programme of work by police in Kirklees targeting alcohol drinkers to make them more aware of the long term physical and emotional effects.
Features of the programme have included a youth referral course for children between 13 and 17-years-old and an Alcohol Impact Course.
This was this then developed in November 2012 to an Alcohol Awareness Course for adults (18 and over) who had been arrested for alcohol related criminal offences.
Temporary Response Insp Andy Lockwood of Kirklees Police, said the Greenhead College course had been both useful and enjoyable.
He said "This has been a fantastic, enjoyable and different project, addressing the causes of alcohol abuse as well as the potential effects. By bringing this drama to our local schools we have been able to integrate with literally hundreds of school students in a fun and educational way. The drama was brilliant, feedback we got was excellent, and we’ve started discussions for a similar project next year."
Teacher, James Harvey from Greenhead College said "This project has been a unique and valuable opportunity for our students to create and perform a piece of original drama with a valuable social message.
"They have responded to the challenge of dramatising the consequences of underage drinking with energy and creativity and we hope to collaborate again with the police on similar exciting work."
Teacher Natalie Denton from Colne Valley High said: "‘It was an exciting opportunity to work in joint partnership with West Yorkshire Police and staff and pupils from Greenhead College.
"A small group of our pupils were interviewed during the planning and preparation of the drama piece, so it was great to see the final performance knowing that some of the characters may have been built around our pupils experiences; this makes it real and relevant to them.
"Our Year 10 pupils really enjoyed the performance and said they learnt a lot from it. It is always good to present up to date information in a creative way so that pupils learning goes beyond the classroom."
