Curtains Close on Successful 'You In?’ Tour

Following a terrific turnout at Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) events at The Swan Theatre, Worcester this summer the GET SAFE production of 'You In?’ written in collaboration with Worcester Theatres toured schools and sixth forms across Worcestershire and was seen by over 3,200 students. 

 

Worcester Theatres and GET SAFE created bespoke performances for under and over 11’s including specific sensory performances. 'You In?’ raises the awareness of what child grooming and exploitation is and looks like, including online safety and gang culture. 

The play aimed to educate children and young people on what this may look like and what they can do if they feel like they are being taken advantage of and asked things that worry them.

At the end of each performance, the GET SAFE team encouraged children to ask questions on topics such as how to keep safe online and share their concerns with the team.

 

Councillor Steve Mackay, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children and Families at Worcestershire County Council said, "Congratulations to the GET SAFE team and Worcester Theatres for yet another successful partnership. It is wonderful to hear positive feedback from children and schools on the performance. With children and young people spending more time online, performances such as 'You In?' are crucial in helping children to identify potential risks and prevent themselves from coming to harm."

 

Owen Harper, Creative Producer and Young Rep Artistic Director for Worcester Theatres said: "Worcester Theatres new TIE (Theatre in Education) production of 'You In?’  toured from September to early October, tackling the issues of child exploitation, gang culture and online safety. Throughout that time, we visited 20 Worcestershire schools and sixth forms, with the piece being performed to a combined audience of over 3200 children and young people. The work was supported by Worcestershire Children First (WCF), who collaborated closely with Worcester Theatres to make a narrative that was both engaging and poignant, pulling from true stories of exploitation from within the County. Thanks to WCF and the trust they put into Worcester Theatres; we have been able to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Worcestershire’s youth through live performance."

 

GET SAFE is a multi-agency partnership approach to identifying, tackling and protecting children and young people experiencing or at risk of criminal exploitation, working across Worcestershire communities to disrupt and pursue the perpetrators.