Part of the money awarded from the Heritage Lottery fund has been used to create a film on ‘detering vandalism.’ Real Time Film Company have worked with young people to make a film which depicts case studies of young people who were once involved in vandalism and who have turned their lives around. The consensus from the young people was that they were drawn to graffiti and vandalism through boredom and a lack of things to do in Spelthorne. Many of the young people interviewed have now taken part in positive activities in the Borough from attending youth clubs, excursions run by the youth service, events organised by Spelthorne Borough Council and activities such as the Sunbury Cross development. These young people state on the film “You don’t realize that there is stuff to do here (in Spelthorne) and not every adult thinks you’re out to cause trouble. Graffing was a release for me to vent my anger and express myself but now I have somewhere to go and do it legally it’s better cause I’m not hurting anyone or getting in trouble.”
The film is due to be used as part of a venture to deter vandalism and teach young people how vandalism effects the victims. The venture is targeted at secondary schools and the film will be used as a tool during drama workshops in order to get the young people thinking about their actions and developing positive attitudes. Drama company Cre8 Theatre have been contracted to run the forum theatre style workshops. Forum theatre is a style of drama which allows the audience to debate the action on stage and change the action to find more suitable outcomes.
