Change Places If...
Community Facts
Aims
- Mental and physical warm up
- Introduce the idea of community
- Develop young people's ideas of community, community services and their place and role in shaping communities.
Instructions
The young people sit in a circle on chairs with you in the centre of the circle. Explain the rules of the game – you will read a statement and anyone who agrees with this statement must change places with someone else in the circle that also agrees (they can't just swap places with the person sat next to them).
After the young people have changed places read the facts about the statement.
Then discuss as a group why individuals agreed with the statement and their thoughts about the facts.
If you feel the activity needs to be made livelier you can make the activity competitive by removing a chair from the circle each time a statement is read out.
Statements
Stand up and change places if you...
have been to hospital in the last year
FACT - The National Health Service (Or NHS as it is more commonly known) was set up in 1948 and is now the largest organisation in Europe and the biggest employer in the UK. It is recognised as one of the best health services in the world by the World Health Organisation. The NHS is changing the way it works to make sure patients always come first. The NHS is funded by the taxpayer and managed by the Department of Health.
Believe that recycling is a good idea
FACT - Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy and conserving the environment. Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled. 9 out of 10 people would recycle more if it were made easier.
Think that MORE than 500,000 burglaries take place in the UK every year
FACT - In 2005/06 the total number of domestic burglaries in England and Wales was around 733,000. That's around 2 in every 100 households.
Think that housing is in a good condition
FACT - The Government is aiming by 2010 to bring all housing into decent condition. Most of the improvements will take place in deprived areas.
Feel safe on the streets
FACT - The Metropolitan Police advise that to increase your safety on the streets you should:
Stay alert. Leave your personal stereos off - they stop you being aware of what's going on around you.
Keep to well-used roads. Don't use alleyways or short cuts. In the dark, always stick to well-lit areas.
Carry a torch or a whistle, or better still, a very noisy screech or shrill alarm. They are not expensive and if you carry a personal alarm, you will feel more confident.
Would like to have a community festival, event or celebration every year
FACT - The Notting Hill carnival is an annual event which takes place in Notting Hill, London, England each August. It is led by members of the Caribbean community, many of whom have lived in the area since the 1950's. The carnival has attracted up to 1.5 million people in the past, putting it among the largest street festivals in Europe.