Dare to experience the Risk Fair

A mechanical bucking bronco, a human gyroscope and a masked performance by local girls are some of the experiences on offer at the South Bank Risk Fair, to be held at the South Bank OAP Community Centre on Normanby Road, Middlesbrough, on Wednesday 22 March from 6-8pm.

The Risk Fair will present findings from a three-year research initiative ‘Strategies for Life’, undertaken by Dr Robin Bunton and Professor Eileen Green from the University of Teesside’s Centre for Social and Policy Research (CSPR) in collaboration with the South Bank Partnership. The £247,500 project, funded by the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB), evolved from an on-going collaboration between CSPR and the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Policy Unit, initiated by Professor Green and Deborah Cadman, Head of the Policy Unit.

The local residents of South Bank were also involved in the project. Concerned about the number of young people involved in crime and other risk taking activities, they contacted the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Derek Fraser, to see if the University could help. Researchers from CSPR have interviewed 600 young people from South Bank aged 11-24, since 1997, on a range of issues, including crime, drugs, relationships and leisure facilities.

The Fair was jointly conceived by Strategies for Life and the local community and will display the research findings in an accessible way, including giant poems and paintings. It is also a thank you to the hundreds of young people from South Bank who helped with the research. Other activities on offer will include making and wearing risky fashion and creating your own comic book. The performance by members of the Girls’ Group from South Bank’s Women’s Centre will see them acting out their views of life in South Bank, wearing masks throughout. The girls have worked for a year with Tamara Seabrook, a Researcher with CSPR and a drama group, Three Over Eden.

Dr Robin Bunton, Co-Director of CSPR said: "It is nice to have this opportunity to report our research findings back to young people in a way they can relate to".

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