As part of charity Integrate UK’s project and its film production ‘Theatre Boy’ based around the escalating knife crime crisis, for which Fairfield High School (FHS) has played an integral part, students Aisha and Jai were excellent ambassadors as they spoke publicly on the panel at Integrate’s UK’s Grassroots to Global: Changemakers Against Youth Violence in London.

Joined by MPs and the Police Commissioner, Aisha and Jai spoke articulately about the effects and concerns of knife crime on a community, highlighting that a large part of the problem lies in the lack of places for young people to socialise and integrate (for example youth clubs). Jai comments: “Part of the problem is there’s nothing for young people to do. They need places where they can interact, feel safe and be themselves.”

Aisha said how comforting it was that the panel wanted to hear from the students’ perspective, and that meeting representatives from Parliament and the Police amongst others, was a unique opportunity.

Aisha and Jai have been part of the group of students privileged to participate in the creation of ‘Theatre Boy’. The initiative which ran across a select number of Bristol secondary schools offered fascinating and enlightening workshops relating to discrimination. Knife crime was chosen as the theme for this year’s video which, after its launch, will be shared with schools nationwide.

Integrate regularly visited the schools to role play, read through proposed scripts and discuss which characters would add more depth to the script, whether more diversity is required and how the ending should look. Armed with this feedback, Integrate refined and fine tuned until students were in agreement that the final film would be engaging and relatable, before they took on the role as actors, film makers or editors.

The young people are now looking forward to Theatre Boy’s preview at Bristol Aquarium, with Integrate funders and influential external agencies including the Police, Children’s Services and Council representatives.

Judith McKenzie, Year 11 Achievement Coordinator at Fairfield High School comments: “Integrate is doing a fantastic job working with diverse schools across the city to uncover racial and gender issues, ultimately focusing on one specific area with which to produce a video. Students then play a key role brainstorming and helping to create this resource.

“As part of this process, our students were nervous, empowered and excited in equal measure to travel to London to talk with those influential agencies and individuals. Speaking as the voice of hundreds of thousands of teenagers, Aisha and Jai shared their thoughts, concerns and solutions for the steps they believe need to be taken to combat knife crime. I couldn’t have been more proud, as without their collective energy, none of this would have become a reality.”

Notes:

In 2022, Project Fearless produced Smile More, which was filmed at Fairfield High School.

This year’s project involving between 40 and 50 young people was filmed over the summer holidays and will launch as a resource in January 2025: https://integrateuk.org/coming-soon-theatre-boy-standing-up-against-knife-crime-through-youth-led-storytelling/

Integrate UK invests “in the skills and talents of young people to nurture future leaders who promote our vision and values.” – https://integrateuk.org/

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Jai:

From left to right on the panel is Nels Abbey, Dr Calvin Moorley, Henry Chan, a student plus Jai

Aisha: Aisha giving her moving speech