Powerful work protects young girls from criminal exploitation
Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has hailed the impact of a project empowering young girls to unleash their creative talents to protect them from county lines exploitation.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC provided funding worth £10,000 from his original Community Safety Fund to arts and education organisation Pedestrian Ltd in Melton Mowbray to launch the Girls Rock! Project.
The initiative has seen youth workers supporting girls aged 12 to 16, who are already engaging in or are at risk of exploitative behaviour, in places where they are most likely to accept help.
By using creativity as a tool for self-expression, the young girls were supported to realise their passions and explore new opportunities they have not had before. They were encouraged to capture and amplify their thoughts, feelings and voices and the challenges they experience as part of a journey to conquering them.
Through 15 weekly, two-hour face-to-face sessions, the girls looked collaboratively at themes such as exploitation, body image, violence, domestic abuse and misogyny, and transform their ideas into original music, music videos, reels, posters, bracelets, t-shirts, graffiti, jewellery and more.
Among the many successes achieved were improved school attendance and engagement. Young people also reported feeling more confident and comfortable in themselves while also feeling more in control of their lives.
One participant with aspirations to become a singer and produce her own songs was supported to write her own music, professionally produce it and record an EP. Prior to her involvement in the scheme she had behavioural and truancy challenges.
In another case, a girl who was home-schooled and living with severe anxiety, unable to communicate or interact with other young people, built up the courage to attend sessions and has now developed positive relationships while broadening her skills across the arts.
The PCC saw for himself how positively young people had embraced the project, and its success in addressing isolation and reversing high-risk lifestyles, during a recent visit.
He said: “I firmly believe crime is not inevitable. This is why prevention lies at the heart of my Police and Crime Plan, and why I continue to channel significant resources into creating opportunities for people to change course.
“This project worked with young girls who were at impressionable moments in their lives, ready to listen and forge a better path. Through the activities provided, they found a positive outlet to express their thoughts and feelings, and see what they were capable of.
“Alongside developing their artistic talents and building their confidence and self-esteem, the sessions reinforced key safety messages to help them identify situations likely to present a danger to their lives and take appropriate action.
“The proof of this project’s success is evident in the improvements in school attendance, the critical skills learned to stay safe and mitigate risk and the increased motivation and discipline to follow their dreams and seize new opportunities with confidence and resilience. We will be looking closely at the outcomes of this project to see what can be learned and applied in future provision.”
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