Young People in Focus

Completed research

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COMPLETED

This work took place when Young People in Focus (YPF) was callled the Trust for the Study of Adolescence (TSA)

Theatre in Education
Drugs Prevention Initiative: An evaluation

This project was funded by a consortium of West Sussex Education Authority, Sussex Police, West Sussex Health Promotion and the Sussex Drug Prevention Initiative.

The Project

TSA was approached in September 1998 to undertake an evaluation of a new ‘Theatre in Education’ drugs prevention project, being undertaken with 9-11 year olds in 22 West Sussex primary schools. Each of the schools followed a programme of work which included a presentation of the play ‘Poor Ted’. Workshops were undertaken before and after the performance, exploring issues around choice, self-esteem, peer influence and decision making. A ‘community performance’ was also undertaken at each school, when the whole play was performed for parents, the police and community workers.

TSA took the evaluation of this project, focused on the effects of the intervention on young people’s attitudes, knowledge, understanding and skills. The evaluation used a variety of methods, including attitudinal scales, story formats, and interviews with pupils and teachers.

The evaluation of the project was undertaken September 1998 – July 1999. A summary of the results is available from the Trust (please send SAE).

Project Leaders

Debi Roker was the project manager, Judi Kidger was the researcher and Helen Richardson provided administrative support on this project. For more information please contact Debi Roker.