Choose Life Project Visits Anglesey

As part of a joint initiative between North Wales Police and the Local Authority on Mon the ‘Choose Life Project’ visited Holyhead recently to educate local youngsters about the importance of making the right decision in order to steer clear from controlled drugs and a life of crime. On Friday 9th December members of the ‘Choose Life Project’ addressed a number of Anglesey based groups and year 10 students from the local secondary school at the Town Council Hall in Holyhead. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ‘Choose Life Project’ is a long established and unique educational and rehabilitation presentation that has been delivered to secondary schools and groups for a number of years. It originated in HM Prison Liverpool in the 1990s and involves volunteers, ex-offenders and former prison officers who perform an in depth presentation in relation to prison life, drug lifestyle and the effects on communities that drug use has. The project has long been acknowledged as being an extremely effective and hard hitting method of delivering the messages and thereby persuading youngsters to make the right decisions in life which it turn helps keep them, as well as their communities safe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Tracey Llewellyn from Holyhead Police Station who helped coordinate the event said “As a community we all have a vested interest in keeping our homes, streets and neighbourhoods and those who use them safe. Together with the Local Authority we listen to the communities concerns and it’s clear that protecting and educating our youngsters to keep away from crime and build productive and happy lives is important. The ‘Choose Life Project’ is an excellent way of communicating that message, in their language and culture, giving them the best opportunity to make the right choice. We all hope they do as it’s not just about reducing crime and ASB in our communities it’s also about investing in their futures for everyone’s benefit.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Today’s event was clearly a massive success and feedback given to Police, Local Councillors and the ‘Choose Life Project’ will I’m certain attract further areas in north Wales to take advantage of this excellent and very worthwhile presentation. We are very grateful for the support received from The High Sheriff’s Crimebeat youth fund that helped make today possible”” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ann Kennedy Mayor of Holyhead said “The Choose Life Project will allow young people to have first-hand knowledge of the impact of addiction. It will enable them to make the right choices. Listening to the volunteers experiences brought a powerful message to the town”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Head of Year 10 Holyhead High School Sarah Davies said “Year 10 students attended the Choose Life Project for a second time, they again found it engaging with some very hard hitting stories. A very powerful message.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Attending the event at Holyhead today were students from the Jesse Hughes and Conwy Centre in Holyhead, Digartref Ynys Mon Llys Y Gwynt and Coedlys, as well as students and staff from Year 10 Holyhead High School. Also attending were Ann Kennedy Mayor of Holyhead and from North Wales Police PCSOs Cara Williams and Kelly Tatlock & Sergeant Tracey Llewellyn. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​