Virtual reality (VR) headsets are being used across schools in Washwood Heath to bring down violence in the area.
The headsets play a fifteen-minute video filmed locally with young people who have auditioned from the community.
They focus on issues like gang culture, which locals highlighted as key concerns through a number of community consultations and focus groups held last year.
The pupils participating navigate through different scenarios and their choices affect the outcome.
The workshops, using state-of-the-art technology, encourage conversations about the video, helping children and young people make good decisions and learn how to minimise risk.
The sessions have been rolled out by the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership (WM VRP) to children aged 10 to 14, alongside further classroom-based work educating pupils on violence reduction.
The VR experience has been developed by Virtual Decisions, an award-winning company that creates immersive and highly-engaging virtual reality programmes that allow you to control real-life scenarios.
The Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said: “We have listened to the communities in Washwood Heath, through a number of focus groups and created a bespoke virtual reality package.
“These workshops target the issues local people are concerned about most and use a creative and immersive way to help guide our young people away from violence.
“The videos really bring these issues to life and allow students to see how their decisions can affect and impact not only themselves, but also the lives of people around them.”
Sami Cornick, Development Manager from Virtual Decisions said: “We’re incredibly proud of our new programme, Virtual_Decisions: INFLUENCE, and its potential to positively impact young people.
“The realistic story and characters create high engagement, deepening the learning experience.
“It’s vital to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for young people to discuss these important issues.”
The WM VRP is based out of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and works to prevent and tackle the root causes of violence.
