Joint action can help young people prepare for secondary school
The Metropolitan Police coordinates a Junior Citizen programme in Haringey each June. The programme targets year six pupils. It aims to equip them with the skills to cope with the transfer to secondary school and the challenges they face as young adults. Junior Citizen covers issues of personal safety, anti-social behaviour, bullying, knife crime, making the right choices and becoming active citizens. Interactive games and puzzles help young people think about the impact and effects of their behaviour.
The setting is Tottenham Hotspur's ground. The other partners are London Fire Brigade, Haringey Council's anti-social behaviour and road safety teams, Transport for London, London Ambulance Service, and EDF Energy Networks. These organisations are present all day and see each group of young people. 1,800 pupils go through Junior Citizen each summer.
The venue's high local, and national, profile is used to reinforce the messages given to young people. They are encouraged to use discussions about the ground as a trigger to tell others about what they learnt on the programme. Teachers in local schools are positive about the impact of Junior Citizen.