CHILDREN are being encouraged to stay away from matches and peer pressure by the Junior Justice team, which is visiting schools across North Wales. Aaliyah Rugg finds out more.

Quite often, when you think of children around the age of 10, you think of innocence and youth. But more credit needs to be given to how much they actually know about the world. It raises the question: is it the right thing to do to protect them from the world, or make them more aware of what is going on?

I was honoured to attend the launch of the Junior Justice project at Ysgol Derwen, Higher Kinnerton, which aims to educate Year 5 and 6 pupils about the dangers of setting deliberate grass fires.

The new project from Theatr Clwyd’s Creative Engagement team is touring 20 primary schools across two weeks with a two-hour interactive workshop. It is performed in Welsh and English and also explains how the criminal justice system works.

Taylor Martin, facilitator, said: “I think it’s a really good opportunity to catch kids before they grow up and are exposed to secondary school and more peer pressure and have more freedom.

“It gives them the tools to make a decision if they were to be in a situation like this. They are responsible for that and their parents can’t get them out of a sticky situation.

“It’s not about scaring them it’s about them knowing their rights and how to take care of themselves if they need it. It also ensures that what they do if they do find themselves in trouble is correct and I think that’s important as well.

“It’s a drama production, which I think is an important thing to take into schools, especially now where arts are cut left right and centre. It’s breaking that boundary of education and drama.”

The workshop follows the story of 11-year-old Ifan and his actions, which leads to devastating consequences for him and his community. Theatr Clwyd staff were amazing with the children and fully engaged with them to take on the roles of police, magistrates and solicitors, as we follow Ifan’s journey of his arrest and his court case.

Actor Lloyd Meredith, 24, portrayed all of his characters well and captured the children’s attention from the minute he started talking. I even found myself thinking of what I would do in that situation and had sympathy for the characters.

One of the great aspects of the production is that it constantly educates children, possibly without them even realising. I learnt a few facts myself, about the goings on in a custody suite like at Wrexham and the typical routine of a firefighter.

The project aims to develop consequential thinking and answering key questions: at what age can you be held criminally responsible for your actions? What happens when a young person is taken into custody? And, how does a courtroom work? Junior Justice examines law and the justice system and how they impact on young people today.

It’s amazing just how much the children knew, from who makes the law and different levels of crime to the happenings of a court room. One child even knew what extremism was and when I think back to when I was 10, I don’t think I ever had that much knowledge. They are young, but more credit needs to be given to them.

Something I thought was incredible, was allowing the children to make the decisions. They chose who to interview after Ifan’s arrest, before finding him not guilty after the case went to court.

They were told the story is based on a real-life event and at the end, one child compassionately asked whether the person injured was okay.

Emyr John, creative engagement associative, said: “It’s all up to them. Quite often at the end they will ask if they are right and we say that is not how the court works. You make a decision as a jury and you have to stick to it.

“It’s the first year of taking this to the juniors. We usually do high school students and change the subject every year and take advice from North Wales Police on what issue to look at.

“This year, because of all the fires we had last summer, they asked if we would be kind enough to look at that and we said yes.

“We are fortunate to get funding for this so schools don’t have to pay and in tough times that is an important thing to note.

“For this age, we are going for something more general. It’s more of an introduction into how the system works and when you get to 10 you are found criminally responsible in this country.”

A considerable amount of research goes into one production. The team have to try and predict different outcomes from the children and stock up on legal knowledge. They liaise with North Wales Police, fire service and the CPS to ensure they have all the facts.

Junior Justice was developed in partnership with North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) and is sponsored by The ScottishPower Foundation.

A representative from the North Wales Fire Service Arson Reduction Team and a Police Community Support Officer will also be present at each workshop to support the team.

PCSO Sammi Salisbury added: “I come to schools as often as I can to engage with the kids because they are very clever.

“It allows me to see what knowledge they do have about anti-social behaviour and it also allows us to raise awareness of certain issues. It’s really good, I can’t believe how much they know.”

Theatr Clwyd is one of 25 charities supported by the ScottishPower Foundation this year, as part of a £1.25 million funding programme in local communities across the UK.

Ann McKeckin, trustee and executive officer of the ScottishPower Foundation said: “By exploring complex and challenging topics through drama, Junior Justice has discovered a unique way of engaging with young people.

“Theatr Clwyd’s previous initiatives have proved the impact its work can have, and we’re thrilled to be supporting the project again this year.”

It’s one thing knowing about the main actors performing at the Mold-based theatre, but what staff do at the schools is often over-looked. More praise needs to be given to those select few who dedicate their time to helping young children and guiding them on their decision making.”