Star date: 21st May 2019

KNIFE CRIME FALL-OUT EXPLORED

"We all know someone who has been stabbed or lived with the affects of it..." John O'Neill 

A shocking and realistic drama exploring knife crime and its effects was performed for school heads and agency staff to bring home the reality of what's happening on the city's streets. It's hoped that the play, #GetHelp, will be taken into schools to start a conversation with young people in Salford.

Full details here...

A 16 year old lies bleeding to death on a park bench, stabbed by unknown youths, as his girlfriend desperately tries in vain to save his life...

#GetHelp is a new play by John O'Neill, stars local young people and doesn't pull any punches as the fall-out of the murder hits the mental health of family and friends. The drama, previewed recently at St Clements Hall in Lower Broughton for school heads and agency staff, is set against the background of real life growth in knife crime, as a zillion printed headlines left lying on the hall's floor testified.

On a screen, images flashed up depicting the mental health issues of young people...stress, suicide, anxiety, self harming...contrasted with happy scenes of best mates and young lovers larking in the park.

While the police try to establish a motive for the killing of 16 year old Callum and events leading up to his murder, his mates - Jamie, Hannah and Ryan – are left to deal with the effects on their own lives. #GetHelp is hard hitting, shocking in places...and, hopefully, is coming to a school near you in the very near future...

"I've been challenging knife crime for the past two years, so it is a problem that needs to be addressed by talking about it and finding out what's going on" the Broughton Trust's Graham Cooper told the audience "Yes, it's why people do these sort of things; but from my point of view it's so that people can see the consequences of what happens when someone dies.

"I actually worked with a kid who killed and he's doing 25 years in prison, and if he could turn back the clock I guarantee you he would not have committed that crime" he added "I've also seen two kids die as a result of knife crime. We've devised this because we knew we needed to do it. There's people locked in bedrooms afraid to come out because of what is going on the streets, and that in itself manifests in mental health issues later in life."

The play became even more of a reality when a woman from the Young People Referral Unit at Salford Precinct, who deals with 11 to 14 year olds, explained in the after show discussion how things are...

"A lot of our kids are permanently excluded from school through issues like this, and the likelihood of them carrying weapons is massive" she said "Most of our kids have either witnessed or know someone who has been stabbed, and there is a high rate of suicide amongst members of families and friends. A kid of around 11 held someone who was bleeding but didn't engage with services, because they were scared of authority."

The play is titled #GetHelp to 'remind young people there is always another way and help is available if needed...'

"This has to be something that can start a conversation and it requires the help of all services, and people who work within the community have to chip in" said writer John O'Neill "We all know someone who has been stabbed or lived with the affects of it. The play is based on conversations we've had and the people we've met."

The idea is to take the play into Salford schools for years seven to nine, or ten to eleven, with workshops afterwards to explore the issues.

If any school wants to show the play get in touch with the Broughton Trust 0161 831 9807

#GetHelp
Written by John O'Neill for Up 'Ere Productions
Cast: Jamie - Julian Hope; Callum – Marcus Coore; Hannah – Amy Brockway; Ryan – Daniel Hardman; Adult roles – Stephen Bowden; Mum – Keri Muldoon.