Southern supports Croydon youth programme

Terriers perform at Fairfield Halls

Southern has joined up with Fairfield Halls to sponsor the inspirational Terriers project in Croydon.

Terriers is a project play for schools that explores issues faced by young people today, such as gang culture, peer pressure, bullying and drug use. It aims to get young people thinking about the consequences of their actions, their attitude towards gang behaviour and the life choices they make. It raises awareness of gun and gang related crime and explores many other issues faced by young people today, such as peer pressure, bullying, drug use and child sexual exploitation. It seeks to equip young people with strategies to deal with these issues. Ultimately, it shows them they have a choice and provides information on where they can turn if they need help or advice. Through a performance, workshop and accompanying school education resource pack, it equips young people with strategies to deal with these issues and make positive life choices.

Following an extremely successful first year, Terriers is returning to Croydon this April to support young people and help to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area. In 2015, of all the students who said before the performance that they did not know who to speak to about these types of issues, 84% said that they did after. Alongside this, 95% of students who attended Terrier said that it helped them to feel confident to talk about gangs or gang-related issues with friends, teachers, family, support organisations or someone else.

Southern’s Community Investment and CSR Manager, Andy Harrowell, said “At Southern we are keen to support the local communities around our stations. Terriers has already proved that it can really change the attitude of young people towards key gang-related issues, many of which can potentially ruin a young person’s life, as well as have a negative impact on our passengers. We are delighted we are able to support this programme again with a £5,000 donation and know that it will continue to have a positive benefit to young people.”

Fairfield Halls Development Officer, Celia Newell said: “Fairfield Halls is delighted to have the support of Southern again to bring this fantastic project to Croydon’s young people. Terriers really has exceeded expectations; with more performances and workshops being delivered than ever before we are reaching out to a huge number of young people and look forward to the change this will make in our communities.”

The play runs from 11 to 22 April.