Jail-house shock! (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Jail-house shock!

12:28am Monday 14th April 2008

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Hundreds of pupils have been spending time behind bars as part of a good citizenship awareness day.

Around 300 Year 8 teenagers at Grange Technology College in Little Horton took it in turn in small groups to be locked up in a mobile prison cell to see just what it's like in prison.

The cell-on-wheels was just one of the true-life experiences youngsters were faced with on Thursday.

Assistant headteacher Steve Evans said although some of the experiences were quite "shocking" it was one way of getting a vital message across that it pays to be a responsible citizen making positive contributions to where you live.

The day was organised by a Hull-based organisation set up by former prison officers who wanted to keep young people out of trouble.

The No Way Trust travels to schools with its life-like cell and street scene workshops, which includes role-play about how not to get into trouble on the street, and organises for other local partners such as the Fire & Rescue service and police to join them.

A dog handler unit was also at Grange on Thursday, so was the Crown Prosecution Service and a road safety group as well as Network Rail warning about the dangers of messing around on its tracks.

Dick Garside from The No Way Trust who co-ordinated last week's visit said: "The Trust's workers take small groups of youngsters into the cell at a time to talk them through what it is like.

"Everything from the steel-framed bunk bed to noticeboard, sink, plastic utensils and toilet are authentic.

"It's all come from an actual cell so it's 100 per cent realistic. We let them sit on the beds and have a good look round but it's tiny in there and you can't escape that feeling of being shut away.

"The experience always gets them asking questions and they can never get over the toilet being right next to the bed, you should see their faces when I tell them they could be eating their tea and their cell-mate is on the loo right next to them. They definitely get the message."

Mr Evans, of Grange, said: "The whole day has been a fantastic opportunity, our pupils have learned a lot and gained a great deal from it.

"Learning about citizenship and our individual responsibility to the community is a very important part of a good education."

The No Way Trust's next visit to the district is likely to be to Salt Grammar School in Baildon in October.

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