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South Essex Homes launches new interactive game to tackle anti social behaviour
South Essex Homes, the Arms Length Management Organisation for Southend Borough Council, are pleased to unveil a new interactive game which tackles the issues of anti social behaviour (ASB).
The game targeted at 10-18 year olds, tackles the negative effects anti social behaviour can have on the surrounding community and has been developed in partnership with local school children.
This year alone South Essex Homes have received 493 reports of anti social behaviour, which can have a major impact on both the community and individuals lives. There are also costs associated to ASB and this preventative measure highlights the negative effects that all forms of ASB inflict on their community and the people within it.
The launch of the new game, which was held at Southend College, included a speech from the Chair of the Board of South Essex Homes, Phil Lyons and then there was the opportunity for people to try out the game themselves and speak to the young people involved.
Sarah Lander, Service Improvement Manager said:
“This new game will enable South Essex Homes to not only potentially reduce anti social behaviour in the town but is also a great way for young people to learn about anti social behaviour in an interactive and imaginative way
Rather than trying to teach young people the “dos” and “don’ts” about anti social behaviour the idea of the game is to let young people make their own choices about how to behave. In turn this will reinforce positive behaviour.
The interactive game, the first of its kind, uses a real environment to teach and embrace young people to get them thinking about the community in which they live in.”
The object of the game is to walk freely around “your town” encountering on the way many varied anti social behaviours including bullying, graffiti and knife crimes. If you react responsibly you gain credits on your “morale-meter” and as this rises you can buy fantasy buildings to create your own personalised version of Southend.
The game, 12 months in the making, has been developed in partnership with local design consultants, Fury and Shoebury High School with the main aim of promoting pride and ownership resulting in less anti social behaviour and associated costs.
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