The Choices programme is aimed at schools staff and pupils in the time of transition from years 6 and 7. It employs social skills training, an approach to violence reduction rated as ‘high impact’ by the Youth Endowment Fund, and aims to increase protective factors, building trust in schools, police and the wider community. 

This innovative, evidence-led programme was designed by Artswork in partnership with BearFace Theatre and uses creative approaches to support staff and pupils to explore the challenges young people face, empowering them to make healthy choices in an increasingly complex world.

It involves teacher training and pupils sessions delivered by teachers and BearFace Theatre based workshops for pupils. Sessions focus on reducing risk factors for violence, including knife crime, exploitation and unhealthy relationships. Three transferable techniques are used: Philosophy for young people, enquiry based learning and mantle of the expert, and delivery aims to be sustainable beyond the intervention period.

Schools are prioritised based on the VRU Strategic Needs Assessment’s identification of geographical areas with higher levels of most serious violence. This is regularly reviewed in quarterly steering meetings between the VRU, Artswork and other partners. If there is a significant spate of serious violence, then re-focuses can be made to target geographical hotspots.

Choices has been successful in its mission, with 90% of staff reporting that they feel more knowledgeable in using creative thinking to reduce risk related knife crime and exploitation. Whilst, there have also been positive results from the pupils Choices has interacted with. This has meant that several schools have asked to repeat Choices in future years, showcasing the impact it has on schools, teachers and pupils. To support this, Choices has been re-commissioned until March 2026.

Since the beginning of the service Choices has been delivered to 445 school staff from 97 schools, and 7665 pupils from 92 of those schools. 

Click HERE to read the evaluation report for Year 2 of this intervention!