Young film makers try to combat anti-social behaviour

Published by Richard Lord for Wakefield & District Housing in Housing and also in Communities, Education, Environment, Health

The next Steven Spielbergs from schools across the Wakefield district collected awards at an Oscar-style ceremony earlier this month after they made short films about how anti-social behaviour affects their communities.

The event, which was arranged by Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) and West Yorkshire Police, took place at Minsthorpe Community College’s Conference and Training Centre in South Elmsall and gave the seven school finalists and special guests a chance to watch the films before the winners were announced on stage.

The winning films – produced by Moorthorpe Primary for the Under 11s and Stockingate Mill Junior for the Under 9s – will be used as educational resources in the future as an anti-social behaviour deterrent to young people right across the district.

Both schools received Oscar-style awards from WDH chief executive Kevin Dodd and Sergeant Lee Carlson, as well as a digital camcorder and a box of chocolates.

Moorthorpe’s entry was a hard-hitting story about an elderly gentleman called George who suffered at the hands of a gang of youths that hung around his house and damaged his garden. The film ended with George being put into the back of an ambulance after suffering a heart attack from the stress.

Upon receiving the Oscar for their winning production, Moorthorpe pupil Hollie Twiby, 9, said: “It’s amazing. We really enjoyed making the film. When we grow up, we know not to do the things that we did in the video because it’s not nice for other people and it’s bad for the community.”

Stockingate Mill’s entry covered a number of issues including threatening behaviour, graffiti, assault, dog fouling and noise nuisance.

Pupil Libby Clarke, 8, said: “It was funny to make but it’s quite serious to watch. Anti-social behaviour is bad and we don’t want it where we live.”

John Scarr, WDH Senior Estate Officer, said: “The intention behind the competition was to get young people thinking about how anti-social behaviour affects their communities and how they have an active part to play in them.

“We’ve been really impressed by the understanding they have shown. They’ve been able to learn by having fun and we hope they enjoyed the whole experience.”

Inspector Jackie Turton said: “The standard of the films were better than we ever could have anticipated. The quality far exceeded what we were expecting when we first came up with the idea.

“The children learnt a vast amount. It will have an impact across the schools and the communities where they live. These children are tomorrow’s teenagers and they are growing up with the knowledge and understanding that looking after their communities is important – not just for them, but for other people too.”

There were also prizes and certificates for the other schools that made the final. Carlton, Havercroft and Ryhill’s junior and infant schools, another from Stockingate Mill and Mill Dam junior and infants from Ackworth all received mini Oscars and a digital camera.