Age Group

12-16 year olds

Year Group

Key Stage 3 / 4

Duration

50-60 minutes

Group Size

5 - 250

Resource Pack?

Available

Follow Up Workshop

Request details

Digital Version?

No

Risking It All

Risking It All

‘Risking It All’ (RIA) is a 50-minute interactive theatre production that addresses child sexual exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) – It highlights how ‘risky behaviour’ among adolescents can lead to vulnerability and dangerous situations. It portrays the grooming process using victims’ personal accounts and helps young people spot the signs.  The ‘Risking It All’ session is a provocative and immersive learning experience where facilitators encourage audiences to discuss the risks identified, spot the signs of exploitation, and discuss the consequences faced by two central characters.

Arts Council England supported a series of consultation and workshop sessions with young people, victims of exploitation and professionals. It was an opportunity to share stories, ask questions and examine case studies and create the script for Risking It All.

Julia is 15 years old, she has trouble at home with her mum’s boyfriend. He is often inappropriate with Julia and she doesn’t like it. Julia then meets Connor online. He has a nice car, he spoils her with gifts and he’s more mature than the boys at school. The character of Julia highlights the grooming process as she finds herself in some dangerous and exploitative situations.

Ben is 16, is at odds with his mum and his grades are dropping at school. The only time he feels relaxed is when he’s with Stu, his mate’s older brother. Stu’s got his own flat, throws the sickest house parties and isn’t on Ben’s back all the time. The character of Ben explores issues of risk, alcohol and substance misuse, grooming and criminal exploitation.
- Raise awareness of unhealthy relationships and sexual exploitation.
- Highlight what unsafe online contact looks like in everyday life.
- Encourage teenagers to identify the signs of criminal exploitation and grooming.
- Examine the risks of drug and alcohol misuse.
- Signpost support networks available.
- Recognising personal strengths, how affects self-confidence and self-esteem
- Recognising how qualities are evaluated by others
- Recognising and reducing risk, minimising harm and strategies for getting help in risky situations
- Understanding inappropriate use of phones
- Misuse of drugs and alcohol and effect on sexual behaviour
- Qualities and behaviours in a range of positive relationships
- Features of positive relationships and those of unhealthy relationships
- Different types of relationships: families, friendships, romantic
- Roles and responsibilities of parents and children
- Consent
- Recognising bullying and abuse in all its forms
- Support services available if in an unhealthy or abusive relationship
- Peer pressure
- Safe and responsible use of ICT
- Understanding right to privacy - pressure to share explicit images of themselves
- Recognising manipulation, persuasion or coercion
- Peers supporting one another
- Personal risks associated with sharing intimate images of others

Key Themes

CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS
BEING SAFE
SUBSTANCE MISUSE
CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION
SEXTING
RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOUR
GROOMING
COERCIVE BEHAVIOUR