Police run workshops with three-year-olds in urgent bid to curb city violence

THEY ARE TAUGHT HOW TO NAME FEELINGS, HOW TO RECOGNISE THEM AND WHAT TO DO IF THEY ARE FEELING ANGRY, OVERWHELMED OR SCARED 05:30, 05 Feb 2025Updated 09:45, 06 Feb 2025 Police are now

running workshops with children as young as three in a bid to crackdown on the violence marring Birmingham. The Violence Reduction Partnership - commissioned by the West Midlands Police

Crime and Commissioner - is running sessions with nursery kids, aged between three and five, in an effort to "start as early as possible." The sessions take place in nurseries and

primary schools, and focus on using "fun and creative activities" to teach young children how to talk about their feelings, who their trusted adults are and how to be kind to

others and themselves. Centred around staying safe and managing emotions, police say the project, Bright Beginnings, teaches children how to name and recognise feelings and importantly, what

to do if they are "feeling angry, overwhelmed or scared." The project is funded by the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership and delivered by Birmingham and Solihull

Women’s Aid (BWSA). READ MORE: Police get special powers for 19 hours in area of Wolverhampton Sessions take place over a six week period, where facilitators use stories and songs to

"help boost self-esteem and feelings of safety" amongst the children in the hope of improving wellbeing and behaviour. Nurseries and schools are then left with resources to

continue the work with future groups. Article continues below It comes amid acknowledgement by experts that interventions to prevent violence amongst teenagers and adults need to "start

as early as possible" in a person’s development, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner says. Simon Foster, praised the WMPCC sessions as he said it's key to engage with

children earlier to "minimise risks of violence" as they grow older. He said: “It is of utmost importance that we start engaging earlier on with our children to minimise risks of

violence. These sessions equip our children with essential knowledge and tools to help recognise when something bad is happening to them and what to do to help themselves.” Teachers, who are

asked to record observations of behaviour before and after sessions, reported "significant improvements." Article continues below Children are already being able to express strong

feelings without violence, manage conflict in a healthy way and be good friends to others, says WMPCC. Naazma Akhtar, Early Years Workshop Facilitator from BWSA, added: “The sessions lay a

strong foundation for children during their formative years, encouraging them to reflect on qualities of a good friend and how to embody these behaviours. “By teaching children early on that

everyone is responsible for their actions and that there is no excuse for abuse, we are fostering a culture of accountability.” Staff from schools are also trained on how to detect signs of

domestic abuse, to help them identify children or parents who may be victims of violence at home and how to support.