A group of teenagers are taking to the stage to help pupils understand dangers of domestic violence.

The 17 students aged 14 and 15 at secondary schools from Buttershaw, Tong, Cathedral College, Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College, Immanuel College and Bradford Cathedral Community College are taking part in the Alhambra Project, which aims to deliver important crime prevention messages to Bradford schoolchildren.

The project, now in its 11th year, is co-ordinated by PCs Brian Feather and Ian Walmsley, schools liaison officers for Bradford South Division, and is run in partnership with Twisting Yarn, the Alhambra's theatre and theatre in education company.

PC Walmsley said: "The police view domestic violence very seriously and this project gives us another opportunity to raise awareness of this often hidden yet most vile crime. It is a crime, which can affect whole families and has far-reaching consequences."

The teenagers will research all aspects of domestic violence, from the offenders and the victims to the affect this type of crime has on society, with help from Twisting Yarn staff and other experts including a representative from Women's Aid, a national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children.

The project will culminate during the second week of September with a piece of theatre written and performed by the students, aimed at stimulating discussion around domestic violence as a crime.

The students will deliver ten performances during that week to 2,000 pupils from across Bradford.

"Students will have the opportunity to examine this difficult subject in a safe environment and then go on to educate their peers and encourage them to speak out about this crime.

"At the same time they will learn theatre skills, develop self-esteem and prove they are responsible citizens," said PC Walmsley Research from UNICEF, the United Nations and Body Shop International into the impact of domestic violence on children suggests that between 240,000 and 963,000 children in the UK could be living with domestic violence.

Children can suffer a range of effects from domestic violence, such as low self-esteem, aggression behaviour and adjustment problems.

The Alhambra project is sponsored by Bradford City Challenge Foundation Ltd, United co-operatives, Art Council England and supported by West Yorkshire Police, Bradford Theatres and First Bradford.

e-mail: sunita.bhatti@bradford.newsquest.co.uk