PCC Joins Pupils for Anti-Drugs Play

Now in its 17th year, Wings to Fly has been seen by over 38,000 young people from the Caerphilly County Borough alone since 1996 and is a key tool for Caerphilly County Borough Council in their commitment to educating young people about the dangers and consequences of substance misuse.

Nearly 2,000 school pupils from Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent are expected to see the play being performed at Blackwood Miners Institute this week (March 10th - 13th). The play is being supported by the Blackwood Crime Prevention Panel and is part- funded by the Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner, Ian Johnston, as part of his remit to reduce crime, tackle anti-social behaviour and protect people from serious harm. Wings to Fly is being performed by youth theatre groups from Blackwood and Bedwas to pupils in Gwent as part of the All Wales School Liaison Core Programme.

Born from an idea by a member of the Blackwood Crime Prevention Panel and written by Margaret Rooney, a former Arts Development Officer at Caerphilly County Borough Council, the play tackles the real consequences of substance misuse through the story of 14 year-old Penguin who succumbs to peer pressure and experiments with drugs. The play discusses several kinds of drugs, from alcohol and slimming tablets to anabolic steroids, mephedrone and heroin.

Looking forward to the performance and highlighting the importance of the play, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Ian Johnston, said: "Hard-hitting theatre plays such as this one are a very useful resource for warning young people about the dangers and the tragic consequences of substance abuse. We are only too aware of the devastating impact that addiction can have on families and our local communities. We want less victims of crime in our communities and productions such as this one can help young people to see the impact of substance abuse for themselves and hopefully help them to make the right decision about drugs or alcohol if or when the time comes."