Emily: The youth worker helping future generations in Surrey to step back from crime

Our youth service Fearless.org is guiding young people away from harm caused by crime with a dedicated outreach worker in Surrey who delivers workshops in schools and youth centres.

Aimed at predominantly those aged between 11-18, our Surrey Fearless worker Emily Drew has reached nearly 6,000 young people by running local school workshops since starting her role in October 2018.

These workshops are designed to reduce the likelihood of becoming involved in crime. They help improve understanding of the risks of falling into crime and encourage young people to protect themselves and those they care about by reporting what they know about crime whilst staying 100% anonymous.

With crimes like County Lines increasing, where young people are recruited often with violence to sell drugs away from where they live, the need to debunk myths such as gang life being ‘glamorous’ is needed now more than ever.

Although Surrey remains a relatively safe place, there is a rise in the number of people using knives as weapons. There was an increase of 20 more serious knife crime offences in 2018/19 compared to the previous year in the county. 

The engaging Fearless.org sessions also highlight how young people have options when reporting crime, as they can speak up and pass on what they know 100% anonymously via Fearless.org. One of 15 Fearless workers across the UK, Emily, a former secondary school history teacher has delivered workshops in over 45 different schools and youth organisations and has trained over 400 professionals across Surrey.

County Lines, knife, drug and hate crime are covered in her sessions, which are free for all schools and youth organisations in Surrey.

“I am passionate about educating young people on how to keep themselves and their friends safe. None of us know if we will ever be in a position where we want to report crime, but feel we can’t. It’s important young people know there is a safe, anonymous way to report crime via Fearless.org and that they can be part of the solution.

“Being a Fearless.org Outreach Worker is very rewarding. It’s a real privilege to meet so many young people and to be able to have some quite difficult conversations about their perceptions of crime and safety.  I enjoy talking to young people, hearing their stories and being able to provide them with the knowledge needed to make better-informed decisions. It’s also great to meet so many charities and youth workers  around the county that do such amazing work.
 
“As an adult, it’s sometimes hard to remember what it felt like to be younger. I always try to reflect on the experiences that my peers and I had at that age and what our approach to life and safety was like. I make it clear to young people that I am here to equip them with the knowledge and tools to keep them and their friends safe. For me, it’s important to be non-judgemental, open and honest – I develop trust and open dialogue in order to ensure they absorb all of the knowledge and support that they need.”

**Fearless.org educational sessions are free for schools, alternative provision, youth clubs and any group that works with young people in Surrey. If you would like further information or want to discuss arranging a visit, please email Fearless@crimestoppers-uk.org.**

Below are some quotes from local young people after attending a Fearless.org workshop led by Emily last year:

‘I find Fearless a great way to stay anonymous while also fighting crime’.

‘I now know that there is a way of reporting a crime without the person you're reporting knowing it was you’.

‘Fearless is making more people comfortable with reporting crime’.

To get more information on Fearless.org and the resources it has available to young people and their peers, visit Fearless.org.

**If you are a young person and have any information about crime but would like to stay 100% anonymous, you can fill out the untraceable form on the Fearless.org website. Nobody will know that you contacted us and it could be your information that makes a difference.**

A short film created by the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner about the important work that Fearless.org does can be viewed here.