Young people in Halton turned thespian to tackle the serious issues of sex and alcohol as part of a drama workshop at the Hub in Grangeway, funded through the Government’s Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) scheme.
Up to 60 teenagers watched a powerful drama by the Tiva dance company about the dangerous sexual situations they can find themselves in while under the influence, before getting into groups and acting out scenarios.
The drama is based on real situations that young people have been involved in, according to feedback given to Tiva during their drama workshops and also examines the impact that excessive drinking among young people can have on the wider community.
The production was funded by the PAYP+ (Positive Activities for Young People) grant, which is part of Aiming High, a ten-year strategy by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to provide young people with positive activities in their local area.
The play follows a hard-hitting radio campaign which was spearheaded by Halton Borough Council after a recent survey found that 25 per cent teenagers feel confused, worried or even scared about sex and relationships, and that most teens would like to talk to their parents or carer about it.
Paula Carney, a youth worker for Halton Youth Service, said: “It’s vital that we educate young people about alcohol and sex because you hear about some real horror situations they have been involved in over the weekend, mainly involving drinking and unprotected sex.
“The drama will really resonate with them because it looks at real life situations and how they would deal with it. This is a good time to show the play as well because Christmas is a time when young people are more likely to get involved in these types of situations.
“We have a c-card scheme, where we hand out condoms, and the take up always increases around Christmas and during other holidays.”
The event also used demonstrations to look at how difficult it can be to use protection when under the influence and saw the young people enjoy fruit cocktails, courtesy of a non-alcoholic bar.
Paula added: “It can be easy when young people are under the influence of drink to think that they can’t be bothered using protection, but this play really highlights for them how serious the implications can be in a setting where they are comfortable. The bar also helped to demonstrate to the young people that they don’t have to get drunk to have a good time.”
Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for the Community, Cllr Marie Wright, said: “It’s great to see young people getting involved in helping to make positive choices about drink and relationships.”
Department for Children, Schools and Families