Skin Deep
In the last week of term before the Spring break in April 2011 the Safer Gloucester Partnership commissioned a performance of the Solomon Theatre’s ‘Skin Deep’ tour for students from Gloucester Academy.
The play ‘Skin Deep’ was developed in partnership with the Police, Trading Standards and PSHE specialists to tell the powerful, moving story of two friends who are attracted to boys from rival gangs. The relationships between the group members become threatened by violence and intimidation until the play’s conclusion where their lives are changed forever by an explosive turn of events.
The play was based on true events and afterwards featured workshops to explore with the young people their experiences and perceptions of gang violence. The play was performed to three different age groups in Gloucester Academy and the message was well received. After the workshops all the students spent time with the Local Policing Team learning about how the Police try to protect the public from dangerous gang members and work together with young people.
• If you have any information about any crime, including gang violence, call Crime Stoppers - you do not have to tell them who you are, just what you know - on 0800 555 111.
• If you know someone carrying a knife you can text anonymously to 88551 and text their name/nickname, school, age group and endz/area. Your number will be scrambled, so Crimestoppers cannot reply or trace your number. Delete the sent text from your outbox. Please note that texts will be charged at standard network rate. 1 text is all it takes.
• Remember 65% of people who carry knives have their weapons used against them. If you are caught carrying a knife you could be fined £5,000 and sentenced up to four years in prison. It’s not worth the risk.
• Check out www.fearless.org