'2 Smart' is the Essex Police award winning project that in 2008 will cover Alcohol, Drugs, Bullying and Knife issues. The project was previously known as '2 Smart 4 Drugs' but now in recognition of growing crime trends and keeping pace with young peoples education needs, the project has been expanded to encompass the foregoing key issues.
KnifeCrimes.org is pleased to be involved in this project which includes 'Westley's Weapons Awareness' and Safer Schools Officers' follow up work in Schools, along with other partner agencies and local authorities. The aim is to deliver powerful messages to reduce alcohol and drug misuse, raising awareness to the long term hazards that can often lead to crime and violent behaviour. Also supported by local Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships, Drug and Alcohol Action Teams and others, as well as Essex FM Radio.
The project has a dedicated website - http://www.2smart.co.uk
'2 Smart' is rolled out across the entire County of Essex including Southend and Thurrock unitary areas. In excess of 80% equating to 15,000 year 7 Schools Pupils aged 11-12 years old will attend, forming part of their Personal, Social and Health Education Programme at School in the curriculum. Every School, Pupil Referral Unit, Excluded and Special Needs Pupils are invited, including young people working with Youth Offending Teams and some Home Educators. Each year the '2 Smart Roadshow' is honed and improved to provide the best recipe of 90 minutes of lively, engaging and interactive education. It combines an interesting mix of music, dance, comedy, theatre and role model depiction to educate 11-12 year olds around the County of Essex. The key use of theatre in education, role models and positive peer work engages young minds. Although '2 Smart' is a lead Essex Police project in it's twelfth year, this exciting Roadshow can be picked up and taken anywhere in the United Kingdom. In this respect welcome enquiries from other interested Police Forces and/or agencies to ann@KnifeCrimes.org or contact '2 Smart' direct through website.