A play about decision making and how others may affect your life.

Chaser has toured secondary schools in Hampshire for the last four years and in 2004, its fifth year, the award winning play and interactive workshop reached twice as many young people in schools across Hampshire.

Over the last four years Chaser has benefited 10,000 13 and 14 year olds in the county. It helps deal with the common peer-pressure issues that face most teenagers and aims to empower them in saying no to substance abuse. It received a Green Apple Award in 2001 and is funded by the Home Office (Building Safer Communities Initiative) as part of its national strategy for encouraging local partnerships to tackle drugs at a community level and Hampshire Drugs Action Team.

Chaser has been delivered through partnerships with a variety of local community agencies including, Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Surrey Borders PCT Substance Misuse Service, Hampshire Inspectorate Advisory Service, Hampshire County District Youth Office and the Community Safety and Health Improvement Teams of local Councils. During January, February and March 2004, Chaser toured to schools in Basingstoke & Deane, Hart, Rushmoor, East Hants, Winchester, Eastleigh, Havant, Gosport and the New Forest.

As well as empowering young people to make up their own minds, Chaser uses drama to explore the facts and myths surrounding peer pressure and focuses on the taking of illegal drugs and substance misuse as a case example.

Chaser consists of a team of four professional actors who run an interactive workshop and perform a play by Kevin Dyer. The play focuses on a group of 14 and 15 year olds and an upcoming 15th birthday. The workshop, following the play, raises awareness on the personal and social outcomes of the effects of substance misuse. It also deals with the play directly by asking questions on how the various situations might have been resolved.

Evaluation of Chaser has revealed that the information young people receive as a result of the project influences their subsequent decisions and behaviour, proving successful and effective in raising awareness of peer pressure and drug related issues:

"It made me believe that I can say 'no' and make up my own mind... it influenced me and made it clear drugs are not very clever." young person aged 14

"The actors were really brilliant and we also learned a lot about social behaviour and standing up for ourselves." The Clere School, Burghclere, Newbury reporting in the Basingstoke Gazette

production team
Writer - Kevin Dyer
Directors - Deborah Wilding (2000-01, 2004), Josh Elwell (2002-04)
Designers - Helen Green (2000), Sam Pine (2001-03), Emma Cains (2004)

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in Chaser, the following associations are available to offer advice and guidance:

FRANK
0800 77 66 00
talktofrank.com
Free confidential drugs information and advice 24 hours a day. Previously the National Drugs Helpline.

Childline
0800 1111
24 hours a day free helpline for children and young people. Any problem, any time.

Kidscape Bullying Helpline
08451 205204
Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. National Charity dedicated to preventing bullying and child abuse.
kidscape.org.uk

Release
0207 729 9904
24 hour confidential helpline offering advice on drug use and legal issues.
release.org.uk
e-mail - ask@release.org.uk

Community Drugs Service
01256 331469
Providing advice and local information on relevant organisations in Basingstoke.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Young People's Information Project
01256 332033
Youth counselling for anyone aged 11-25.
Mon 3pm-7pm, Wed 12pm-7pm, Fri 10am-1pm & 3pm-7pm
e-mail - info@ypip.fsnet.co.uk

Drugs in Schools Helpline
0808 800 0800
Offering advice, information and support for those concerned about a drug incident at school.
Mon-Fri 10am-5pm

Drinkline
0800 917 8282
Confidential information and advice. They can put you in touch with your local alcohol advice centre.
Mon-Fri 9am-11pm

Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire
0207 403 0888
Provides self-help sessions for people whose lives are affected by someone else's drinking.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm