Hallam uses media to help PCC teach kids about dangerous behaviour
We've been going into South Yorkshire schools and using media to teach kids about the consequences of things like sexting, drugs and alcohol
Last updated 21st Jun 2017
In the first project of its kind, Hallam's been using media to teach South Yorkshire schoolchildren about the consequences of things like sexting and taking drugs.
We've been working with the Police and Crime Commissioner, running sessions in schools across our county.
You're Only Young Once (YOYO) has seen children making podcasts, videos and radio ads on a range of important issues for young people - warning them of the consequences of irresponsible or dangerous behaviour.
Chloe's from our Bauer Academy who've been running the sessions - she says engaging children with media has really helped get the key messages across:
"We could do it in a lecture-style format, where we come in and say 'Look, we're going to speak to you about cyber-bullying', but I think there is a stigma there - a lot of students feel awkward talking about it. This way, it really does break the ice, and the students feel more comfortable talking about it."
"We've done a massive variety of stuff - podcasts, mini radio adverts, mini vlogs, we've done YouTube stuff, and we've done mini documentaries as well. That has been really effective, the schools are retweeting it, the students are retweeting it, everyone's talking about it on Facebook. What's really important is we're not just delivering to the people in the classrooms, we're cascading it."
Children have been learning about things like cyber bullying, domestic abuse, sexting, drugs and alcohol.
The project is the first of its kind in the UK and it's hoped it's an idea which could spread across the country.
Dr Alan Billings is South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Comissioner - he says it's a brilliant scheme:
"The students enjoy doing it and they've got a product at the end of it, there's something they can see, something they can share with other people. They can share it with their families, there'll be a website they can go on to look at the things they've all done, so it's a very exciting project. I know from experience that they get very excited by doing it."
"Everybody seems to be very responsive to this - teachers because it's something really good which excites them and the young people themselves. So far, all the signs are very good."
"I think those who are running the project also have to have some understanding, some duty of care around this. But they are big issues, and young people need to understand them if they're going to go into the world safely."
The sessions have been taking place in schools across the county in past few weeks and months - and are set to continue.
All the content's being put online for students to access and share after class.
Aine and Eleanor are in Year 9 at Yewlands Academy in Sheffield and made videos on cyber-bullying in their session.
They said it's a great way to get messages across to them and their friends:
"My sister doesn't watch much TV, she always watches stuff online, and if she sees a video about bullying - because she's quite a young age - it'll influence her to know not what to do."
"It shows you what's okay to do and what's not okay, and how people can feel."
"Most people have social media, and if it's on the internet, then the type of people who would be targeted for cyber-bullying would be the type of people to see it, and they're the people we're aiming these videos towards."
You can see the videos and podcasts for yourself on the YOYO website.