Students back fun event with serious message

A fun event with a serious message was organised at a Middlesbrough school by University students from the Crimestoppers Youth Board.

The Crimestoppers Youth Board - all volunteers studying at Teesside - was set up with help from the University’s Volunteer Project Co-ordinator Jayne Villiers. It is the charity’s only UK Crimestoppers Youth Board.

Teesside students Jenny Hill, Hazel Geldard and twins Jessica and Jhordan Ayre organised the day long event for pupils at Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough.

The event brought together a range of organisations and agencies aimed at supporting young people, such as Connexions, Safe in Tees Valley and Platform.

Jenny, 21, of Middlesbrough, who is completing an MA Criminal Investigation, said: ‘We contacted a range of organisations and groups to invite them along as a way of promoting crime prevention and related subjects.’

Hazel, 20, of Peterlee, a BSc (Hons) Criminology student, added: ‘The event included talks, presentations and a range of information stands to promote positive information to the children.’

Jenny added: ‘I joined the Crimestoppers Youth Board as I was keen to get involved in voluntary work and also as the work of the youth board links to my own studies at University.’

Event was fun and interesting Among Unity City Academy students who attended the event was Adele Smith, who said: ‘It’s been really fun and interesting. I enjoyed learning about the Crimestoppers website.’

Jayne Villiers, the University’s Volunteer Project Co-ordinator, said: ‘The Crimestoppers Youth Board aims to provide support to raise the profile of Crimestoppers.

‘Working in partnership with other organisations, the event provided a fantastic opportunity to support the young people of Unity City Academy.’

Pat Towey, Head Teacher at Unity City Academy, added: ‘The event was exciting and informative. The students were able to interact with officials from a range of crime prevention services, while learning about how they can help and support themselves within the community.’

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