Girls Have
Their Say
Girls Have Their Say
ly film and
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cr
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prod
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ed 'K' in
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m
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and gangs in
ex
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ere asked to
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Say film and
’s Day celeb
ir
en
e
h
m
o
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e
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v
al
a
n
H
,
Internatio
ross London
ng our Girls
ng people ac
d to be touri
u
te
yo
ci
0
ex
0
6
ry
r
ve
are
me to ove
.
shop program
participants
Theatre work
the original
f
o
e
m
so
y
y in Arc's
nted b
the third pla
E
proudly prese
l
ir
G
m
hlight
n fro
e need to hig
ay follows o
th
S
m
ir
o
e
h
fr
T
ed
e
p
v
o
Girls Ha
liver - devel
he themes
by Clifford O
and gangs. T
y
s
g
rl
g,
lo
gi
ri
f
T
o
e
ct
d
Bla
subje
pon-carryin
en invisible
mothers, wea
ft
o
ye
ab
th
b
le
f
s,
o
ck
ap
me
and ta
ips, honey tr
uched on so
e relationsh
. We have to
n
io
at
duce to
it
lo
ro
p
p
raised includ
xual ex
rtant to
se
o
p
d
an
im
ce
as
n
w
le
lt
and
domestic vio
which we fe
young people
rce booklet,
s,
u
er
so
h
re
ac
is
te
e
th
p
to help
we ho
these in
amme, and
urce together
gr
so
ro
p
re
e
d
th
an
y
accompan
use the film
involvement.
ill be able to
w
s
er
rk
o
gers of gang
w
an
d
d
youth
an
s
sk
ri
eness of the
devised and
spread awar
ave all been
h
e
m
am
gr
g pro
towards
t and tourin
tly working
le
en
k
o
rr
o
b
cu
,
e
D
V
ar
r
The D
omen, who
thank you fo
our young w
*
ould like to
w
e
W
.
d
compiled by
ar
rts Aw
eir Bronze A
achieving th
roject.
em in this p
supporting th
ith
Natalie Sm
er, Arc
Project Lead
ward.org.uk
* w w w.artsa
2
Girls Have Their Say
ed the
schools join
t
n
re
fe
if
d
irls from
d friends.
“Over 40 g
me my goo
ca
e
n
b
y
e
th
e outlook o
project and
e me a hug
v
a
g
e
m
rc
d
A
e
h
it
it help
Working w
future and
e
th
in
o
o
d
d
why people
what I could
gs, such as
in
th
king the
d
n
ta
unders
. Whilst ma
it
o
d
y
e
th
order
how
need boys in
things and
’d
e
w
t
h
g
u
ls tho
pened up
film, us gir
idn’t. We o
d
e
w
y
ll
a
we can
but re
essage that
to do this,
m
e
th
r
e
at
ch-oth
. I know th
and gave ea
ependently
d
in
r
s
e
e
th
lv
o
e
ss to
rely on ours
ng awarene
ri
b
l
il
w
n
o
lm
a
e
the GHTS fi
’t got an id
who haven
re
e
th
t
u
o
."
girls
tting into
could be ge
what they
Ajijia Oweh
“Girls and
young wom
en often
play key ro
les, either
as gang
members th
emselves o
r as the
girlfriend o
f a gang me
m
ber,
finding the
mselves pre
ss
ured
into crimin
al activity.
But they
can equally
play key ro
les in
standing up
, influencin
g their
peers and le
ading the w
ay
towards a b
righter futu
re away
from the ga
ng influence
.”
Alison Saun
ders, CPS Lo
ndon
Chief Crown
Prosecutor
(from the CP
S event feat
uring Girl E
Girls Have
and
Their Say, sp
ring 2012)
3
Girls Have Their Say
Girls in gangs
at I walk
The path th
“Being a pa
rt of GHTS
has
made me re
alise how
much girls
are influen
ced
by gangs an
d this reall
y
worried me
, because I
thought ga
ngs were ju
st
for guys. M
aking the
video and li
stening to
K’s
story has o
pened my e
y
es
to the hars
h reality; it
has made m
e aware of
everything
now and I'm
so glad tha
t I took part
in
the project.
”
Chelsey Gritt
on
Criminal offences by girls
aged 10-17 have increased by
25%
Violent offences by girls aged
10-17 have increased by 50%
latunji
by Sefunmi O
I walk,
The path that
at I talk.
The words th
,
at I run with
The crew th
e with.
n
ould be do
The ones I sh
rt,
s on my hea
There's scar
e apart.
m
g
e tearin
'r
ey
th
e,
li
o
N
emotion,
No love, no
evotion.
No car, no d
and alone,
ing here I st
ur own.
As I’m stand
lace to call yo
p
o
n
s
e’
er
Face it, th
call a mate,
friends you
d
le
al
-c
so
r
gonna wait?
You
deep who's
o
to
in
e
’r
u
When yo
nt me,
seems to hau
rd
o
w
y
er
ev
u taught me.
Your
at’s what yo
th
s’
ve
ie
th
you most?
‘Thick as
when I need
w
o
n
u
yo
e
ttle boasts?
But where ar
uth or silly li
tr
f
o
s
rd
o
w
ur
and only”
Were they yo
u’re my one
yo
y,
ab
b
u
urself on me.
“I love yo
you forced yo
re
o
ef
b
at
th
You said all
of my own,
p in a world
u
t
gh
lled ‘home’.
u
ca
ll
A
is a place ca
l
el
h
at
th
k
in
pack,
Forced to th
clothes and
y
m
t
ge
t
u
b
to do
e back.
Nothing left
d NEVER com
an
ay
aw
n
I'm gonna ru
1 in 4 violent attacks now
involves a female
The number of young women
carrying weapons is
increasing year on year
4
Source: British Crime Survey, 2009-10
Follow-up exercise
In pairs, research the consequences and criminal
sentences for being caught carrying a weapon in
the UK.
ina
Anita Adesh
22% of respondents
thought it was either
acceptable or were
unsure if it was
acceptable or not for a
boy to expect to have
sex with a girl if he has
spent a lot of time and
money on her
21% of respondents
thought it was either
acceptable or were
unsure if it was
acceptable or not for a
boy to expect to have
sex with a girl if she has
had sex with numerous
people already
Being with a
guy in a gang
Girls Have Their Say
en I
ject was wh
ro
p
nal
e
th
f
o
art
ut educatio
b
l,
a
n
o
ti
“ The best p
o
em
I WAS in
d K. It was
rned that if
a
le
interviewe
I
,
lk
ta
ls or
g to her
h their riva
it
w
t
c
too. Listenin
ta
n
o
c
can't be in
a gang, you
ences.”
e
s
ad con qu
b
e
b
l
il
w
there
Source: NSPCC Partner
exploitation and violence in
teenage intimate relationships,
September 2009
I must confe
ss
by Ebunoluw
a Ore
I must confe
ss, the love
I had for you
I thought yo
was a test
u had my hea
rt and we w
Silly me, tho
o
uld never par
ught you wo
t
uld be there
You just thre
when I need
w me aside
ed
you the most
with your oth
I fell hard, I'
.
er responsib
m back on to
il
ities.
p, you can't
I thought ou
te
ar me down
r love was re
like you did
al and we w
You pushed
before.
ere a deal.
me low, you
pushed me h
I have flashb
igh, you’re ju
acks in my h
st like the ot
ead of all th
her guys.
Tearing love
o
se people w
d ones apart,
ho are dead
it's breaking
my heart.
5
Girls Have Their Say
Domestic violence
and sexual abuse
“Girls in ga
ngs need to
be aware th
they THINK
at the man
they love d
oesn’t love
really. They
them
will either
end up abu
sexually ab
s
ing them,
using them
, or using th
GHTS proje
em. The
ct is power
ful because
that was sa
e
verything
id or shown
is TRUE.”
Anita Adesh
ina
ory
Bonnie’s st Clifford Oliver
6
Nearly 75% of girls have
reported some sort of
emotional partner
violence
33% of girls and 16% of
boys have experienced
some form of sexual
violence from a
boyfriend or girlfriend
1 in 5 young men and 1
in 10 young women
think that abuse or
violence against women
is acceptable
Source: ICM UK poll of 16-20
year-olds, November 2006
by
r me outside
from Girl E
as waiting fo
w
e
li
il
B
er
ex didn’t
on, my sist
e with her. D
m
o
h
One afterno
k
al
w
to
t she’s
wanted me
wouldn’t. Bu
I
im
h
school. She
ed
is
m
ily I’ve got
g it – I’d pro
, all the fam
like me doin
ke
li
s,
e’
h
S
?
u know
my sister, yo
.
e
now. So I did
ere are som
them. I knew
e estate – th
tside one of
u
th
o
ss
d
n
ro
u
o
ac
ar
g
kin
ey had in
ging
We were wal
whatever th
p of boys han
..
u
s.
o
u
gr
t
a
gh
e
u
er
ca
waited
they
ere w
She went. I
r us, and if
.
garages – th
te
at
af
th
e
g
m
in
co
av
ds me,
n’t h
n they’d
alking towar
lie too. I was
w
il
e
B
that if we ra
er
to
w
en
ys
p
o
eb
might hap
away. They
couple of th
mind for me
ted walking
and safe. A
ar
t
st
gh
d
si
f
an
o
t
ed
u
o
rn
fe. Then I tu
until she was
door...
il she was sa
‘t
and shut the
t
ai
ge
w
ra
to
ga
e
th
to
in
but I had
k
bac
Dragged me
grabbed me.
Girls Have Their Say
The honey trap
HTS film
From the G
oing on?
A: What is g
y cousin!
m
d
le
il
k
E
H
B: S
e didn't kill
h
S
.
id
p
u
t
s
so
C: Don’t be
anyone.
e stuck the
v
a
h
t
o
n
t
h
D: She mig
reason he’s
e
h
t
's
e
h
s
t
knife in, bu
dead!
ow
n't you see h
a
c
it
e
v
a
C: Just le
?
upset she is
u
ee upset? Yo
s
o
t
t
n
a
w
u
B: Yo
ntie and my
u
a
y
m
e
e
s
should
ver going to
e
n
e
r
a
y
e
h
cousins. T
ther again.
o
r
b
r
o
n
o
s
see their
sh...
A: Oh my go
eet
arrange to m
s
a
w
id
d
I
E: All
p.
didn't turn u
I
n
e
h
t
,
im
h
.
tood him up
That's it. I s
that, is it?
s
a
le
p
im
s
s
F: It's not a
im up...
D: You set h
Follow-up
exercise
Set up a drama
exercise where one
friend has to
persuade the other
not to participate
in a ‘honey trap’.
What are the
consequences if
she does/does not
get involved?
7
Girls Have Their Say
8
From the GHTS film
Babymothers
A: And what if you are pregnant?
B: We don’t know that yet, and that’s why I’m here, isn’t it.
A: But what if you are?
B: What do you mean?
A: Will you keep it? Will you have a baby? HIS baby? And do you
think he feels the same? Do you think he loves you? Do you think
he’ll change just because a baby comes along?
B: I don’t know, maybe?
A: You’re SO stupid! The only person he cares about is himself.
Always has and always will. He’s already got a kid. Maybe he’s got
loads and we just don’t know about them! Baby-mothers all over
the place! That first kid didn’t change him did it? He’s still in a
gang, he’s still hurting people, still hurting you. And now you
want to have his baby – show the whole world that you’re his girl,
his baby-momma. Don’t you see that makes you a target? Anyone
who wants to get at him, wants to take revenge for something
he’s done, can just find YOU!
Extract from
Baby-moth
er by Jemima
He just keep
Orija
s on running
n
ot able to cr
Seen too man
y
y closed cask
ets to releas
Urgent siren
e any tears
s growing cl
o
se
r confirming
Standing in
his fears
front of the
house think
Then he sees
in
g
;
‘A
ll this over a
it’s not his h
colour?’
omie, but his
Being rolled
baby-mother
away on a b
loody bed
No doubt ab
out it, the yo
ung beauty
Now his hom
was dead
ie isn’t cryin
g,
w
h
ic
But he's lost
h sounds kin
everyone to
d of sad
gunsmoke, ev
Now we all
en his mum
crowd in the
and dad
church house
And look at
without shed
the preacher
ding a tear
and act like
We all wait
we hear
in suspense
for the soon
Even though
coming nigh
God says tw
t
o wrongs do
We all loved
n't make a ri
that girl so w
ght.
e must let th
That if they
em know
take one of
ours, ten of
theirs must
go...
Follow-up exercise
Discuss why some
girls are attracted
to boys in gangs and
the consequences
of becoming a
‘baby-mother’.
I felt his warmness
passing by me while
I held his hand
It just makes your he
art beat slow each tim
e,
Tears dripping away
from my face
But there’s still noth
ing you can do.
The blood on your ha
nds makes you think
twice about life,
Makes you think ho
w life is really short
th
es
e days.
Going back to the lif
e down there, people
re
sp
ect you
For what you have be
en through,
But still have the gu
ts to ask you to hold
a knife for them
But I just turn arou
nd and walk away.
Knowing my mistak
es in life, it is still ha
rd,
Nightmares and seein
g his face, it makes
you just cry.
This is what I went
through, me, Sylvia.
I don’t wish anyone
to walk in my shoes,
on my path, ever.
Girls Have Their Say
Extract from A Gir
l’s Story by Sylvia Zaran
ek
(based on a true inc
ident and murder)
9
Girls Have Their Say
Hope for the future
“The best part for
me was having a vo
ice. It feels like yo
like myself - don't
ung people - youn
have a voice which
g girls
we could express ou
people how we felt
rselves with and te
about things within
ll
our society. But w
share what I though
ith GHTS, I could
t and felt with the
group without gett
me to have a voice.
ing judged - allowin
Also, the girls all sh
g
are the same emot
some fears which
ions/feelings and
I have about life an
d about things whi
made things easier
ch happen around
to talk about and I
us. It
think now we have
which people will
a stronger voice,
hear.”
Chelsea Salek
some people
there were things
at
th
e
m
d
se
ri
rp
su
“It
k that
appreciate the wor
n
ca
I
l.
al
at
ow
didn't kn
about the issues
tting the word out
ge
by
g
in
do
is
c
Ar
to have
d I'm very thankful
an
,
m
fil
e
th
in
d
addresse
been a part of it.”
Jennifer Ezebuenyi
“The best part of th
e project was wor
king with all the
girls, becoming re
ally close and how
we’ve all opened
up to each-other!
We’re practically fa
mily now.”
Kimberly Okoye
Follow-up exercise
10
Write your own poetry or monologues about
how you feel about girls and gangs.
www.childline.org.uk
The UK’s free, confidential 24-hour helpli
ne for young
people of all ages who are in distress or
danger: 0800 1111
www.heartprogramme.org
A 24-hour, anonymous helpline supplied
by Childline
offering help to young people on having
healthy
relationships or those feeling pressurised
into something
they don't want to do: 0800 1111
www.nhs.uk/livewell/teengirls
www.gangsline.co.uk
Targeted Against Gangs offers real suppo
rt and exit strategies
through their freephone charity helpline:
0800 032 9538
www.thehideout.org.uk
A space created by Women's Aid to help
children and young
people understand domestic abuse, and
how to take
positive action if it's happening to you:
0800 2000 247
www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpli
ne.org.uk
The free, 24-hour national domestic violen
ce helpline, run in
partnership between Women’s Aid www
.womensaid.org.uk
and Refuge refuge.org.uk : 0808 2000 247
Information and advice for girls from the
NHS on
relationships
www.brook.org.uk
Free and confidential sexual health inform
ation for under
25s: 0808 802 1234
www.thehavens.co.uk
Specialist centres in London for people who
have been raped
or sexually assaulted. Whitechapel branc
h: 020 7247 4787
www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Charity offering rape and sexual violence
information and
helpline: 0808 802 9999
www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans
gender (LGBT)
people experiencing domestic violence:
0300 999 5428
www.victimsupport.org
National charity offering free, confidential
help to victims
of crime, their families, friends and anyon
e else affected:
0845 30 30 9000
www.samaritans.org
http://thisisabuse.direct.gov.uk
24-hour, confidential, non-judgmental emot
ional support
for people experiencing feelings of distre
ss or despair:
08457 90 90 90
www.getconnected.org.uk/abuse
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/
violence-against-women-girls/
The government information and advic
e website for young
people dealing with all forms of abuse
The free, confidential helpline, email and
webchat service
for young people needing support for their
emotional and
physical well being : 0808 808 4994
Girls Have Their Say
Where to turn for help
The lead government department news
and information
section on the fight to end violence again
st women and girls
hing and
iet doesn’t do anyt
qu
g
in
ep
Ke
t.
ou
k
ngs and my
that people spea
experiences with ga
“It’s so important
of
s
ad
lo
d
ha
e
I’v
ve done
problems.
’s future then I ha
rl
gi
it won’t solve the
e
on
en
ev
ge
st can help chan
motto is, if my pa
something great.”
Follow-up exercise
K (ex-gang member)
Create a poster detailing where to go for help if you
are concerned about a friend who is considering
joining a gang or is being abused by a partner.
11
ta Adeshina, Linda Agerly,
Girls Have Their Say are Ani
wosa, Precious Ayebola,
Kay Agunbiade, Sarah Aimuna
Mabel Collins, Giuseppina
Thandiwe Banda, Skye Bolger,
hora Enguake, Chia
Dikko, Hannie Dos Santos, Sep
Amarra Gaspard-Brown,
Etheridge, Jennifer Ezebuenyi,
ra Harper, Jolene Hayford,
Chelsey Gritton, Hawa Haji, Lau
o, Shantelle Keech,
Reanna Joyce, Hazuinei Kamhon
nie Feliciette Laurent,
Julie-Anne Kole-Emmanuel, Leo
usi Matu, Jodie Moore,
Rebecca Lawrence, Elvire Mav
, Grace Neary, Kimberly
Marcia Moreno, Natasha Mtetwa
noluwa Ore, Jemima Orija,
Okoye, Sefunmi Olatunji, Ebu
herine Pirie, Lauren
Ajijia Oweh, Temi Oyenuga, Kat
Sheridan, Rebecca Watson,
Rugglin, Chelsea Salek, Sarah
nek
Stephanie Wright and Sylvia Zara
designed by the GHTS
This resource was compiled and
Arc team and John
participants with help from the
Williams Design
Images by Reanna Joyce
k
Illustrations by Chelsea Sale
m
Girls Have Their Say Arc tea
Natalie Smith - Project Leader
nt Leader and Filmmaker
Grace Pluckrose-Oliver - Assista
istant
Neelofer Ajazmir - Project Ass
ions and Design
Theresa Snooks - Communicat
To find out more, contact:
Natalie Smith, Arc Theatre
First Floor, The Malthouse Studios
62-76 Abbey Road, Barking IG11 7BT
t: 020 8594 1095
e: [email protected]
www.arctheatre.com
With special thanks to the
Home
Office Communities Against Gan
gs, Guns
and Knives Fund; 'K'; Sheldon
Thomas at
TAG and Gangsline; Carole Pluc
krose,
Clifford Oliver, Nita Bocking,
Josh Cass,
Katie Snooks and the cast of
Girl E at
Arc Theatre; Lorna Plampin; Nat
alie
Taylor; Claire Bailey-Day; Dan
ielle
Kummer; PCSO Sam Gritton,
Gary Eyers
and Vicky Golledge at LBBD Met
Police;
Caroline Porter and Sue Gooding
Children's Services at LBBD; the
Girls
Have Their Say Steering Group
in
Barking and Dagenham: Kevin
Donovan Childrens’ Rights, Participatio
n and
Engagement Manager, Dan Hale
sInterim Group Manager, Youth
Offending
Service and Tim O’Brien - You
th
Services; Mari Davies at Refu
ge; Rose
Parker - Community Outreach
Worker at
Lambeth; Judy Antoine at YOS
; Dianne
Augustine at Cherish Girls/Danie
l
Project; the teachers and staf
f at
Eastbrook (in particular Kim
Wilson),
Eastbury (in particular Karen
Witt), Jo
Richardson (in particular Eliz
abeth
Mitchell) and Sydney Russell
Schools (in
particular Liz Coyle); and the
parents,
guardians and families of the
young
women involved for their con
tinued
support and encouragement.
Girls Have Their Say
is financed by the
Home Office through
the Communities
Against Gangs, Guns
and Knives Fund
Girl E was
commissioned by
British Transport Police