Campaign launches to help keep teenagers safe over Halloween and Bonfire Night
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Fearless – the youth programme of charity Crimestoppers – has launched a new campaign to keep teenagers across the north-east and Scotland safe this autumn.
Focusing on Halloween and Bonfire Night, the charity’s pro-social behaviour messaging provides teens with information on how to stay safe and look out for their local community.
The digital campaign will run across Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok – all key social media platforms used by young people, with each of the videos co-produced by the charity’s youth volunteers.
One TikTok filmed at a fire station, shows a young person talking to a local fire fighter and high-fiving him at the end. Young people are then prompted to swipe up to learn more about fireworks safety and legislation.
Another features animated dancing skeletons and includes important information about trick or treating and respecting people’s right to not take part and not be scared by high jinx, which can often spiral into anti-social behaviour.
The campaign also seeks to challenge the myths and negative stereotyping around anti-social behaviour.
According to research carried out by Scottish Community Safety Network in 2020, adults are more likely to be found committing anti-social behaviour than young people.
Lyndsay McDade, national youth projects coordinator at Crimestoppers, said: “With the dark nights drawing in, it’s particularly important that everyone feels safe in their communities.
"That’s why this campaign focuses on the key events happening over the next few weeks – Halloween and Bonfire Night – and provides young people with important information on how they can not only stay safe from harm but help their community to do so as well.
“Rather than using traditional anti-social behaviour messaging, we’re continuing to champion pro-social behaviour instead.
"The vast majority of young people are absolute assets to their communities and for those that sometimes make negative choices, it’s important that we’re clear about ways that they can turn that around to make more positive ones.
“On our website Fearless.org, young people can find a ‘positive action’ section on our autumn page, with ideas of pro-social things to do as well as vital information about trick or treating safely and fireworks legislation.
"They can also use our website to speak up 100 per cent anonymously about who is responsible for fireworks misuse and deliberate fire-raising.”
One young person involved in the campaign creation, said: “I loved being part of the campaign and sharing my ideas.
"I feel really strongly that young people shouldn’t constantly be blamed for the actions of only a few.
"We want to make our communities better and by adding our ideas for autumn, it’ll give other young people ways to stay safe and make a difference.”
