Young People
Unlock Drama CIC’s work with young people in the community focuses on early intervention, prevention, and reducing first-time offending. We support young people at risk of entering the criminal justice system, young people with convictions, and young people placed in Secure Children’s Homes / Secure Accommodation Network (SAN) on welfare grounds.
Through dynamic, rehabilitative theatre projects, we build confidence, develop interpersonal skills, encourage pro-social behaviours, and strengthen emotional literacy. Delivered across Youth Offending Teams (YOTs), secure care settings, and youth services, our workshops create a safe and creative space for growth.
By addressing key issues such as substance misuse, violence reduction, gang culture, and mental health awareness, Unlock Drama empowers young people to reframe their futures — increasing motivation to engage with education, training, and employment pathways. Our trauma-informed, strengths-based approach fosters resilience, positive decision-making, and sustainable change.
Interested in delivering community projects with young people?
Please get in touch…
feedback from young people
“It can help rehabilitate because it makes you see things from other people’s perspectives: police, parents etc which I haven’t considered before.” – HMYOI Aylesbury
“The project has helped me to develop my team-working skills. It has been really fun! It has taught me to have more patience with others.”
“Made me feel more comfortable around people I don’t know. I’ve gained confidence and I’ve got out of the cell, which has helped my mental health.”
“Gave me experience in drama and i learnt creativity”
“Made me confident coz i wouldn’t have normally acted in front of everyone”
“It’s something different – not the same things that always happen. It’s good to try something new”
“I can do a play now – I’ve got rid of my stage fright”
“Good to be in education – it’s good to be learning something ‘init!”
“It’s helped me get more confident! I was a bit nervous in front of people, but it’s helped me gain confidence. I was nervous in front of people I know, and it shows you can get
nervous with people you don’t know and do know.”
“It gets things off people’s chest and staff know what affects us in here”
“Mental health is important – young people don’t talk about it enough!”
“I didn’t think I’d do the drama on the first day but i did take part”
“That I joined in the play – when people say ‘do this’ I wouldn’t normally do it”
“I didn’t think I’d act in front of people at the start of the week”
“That i actually done it coz I would never done this, I just thought it’s something new so
why not”
Staff Feedback Aldine House Secure Children’s Home
*Verbal Feedback from Janet (staff member who had been present in all sessions throughout the week) Pre final performance*
“I’ve not seen them working in a group like this before, in fact we’ve had to do enrichment separately before. D has changed, she’s normally quite quiet. She’s communicated well and spoken about mental health in detail. Being in a group is a massive achievement for our young people and that they’ve been able to communicate positively to each other. I think both of your [unlock Drama Facilitator’s] lovely personalities have been a big part of the atmosphere set this week.”
*Written Feedback via email from Chris Learning Coordinator post performance*
How did your young people benefit from today’s session?
“Our young people benefited from the Unlock Drama enrichment project in several ways. They developed essential team-building and relationship-building skills by collaborating on various activities. The project encouraged them to step out of their comfort zones, fostering perseverance and resilience. Through engaging in the drama games and activities, they acquired new skills while learning to enjoy each other’s company, strengthening their sense of community and support for one another. The project allowed them to open up in front of each other and comfortably discuss mental health.”
Did you see any specific individual make progress, if so, what did you observe and why was this significant?
“Yes, specific individuals made noticeable progress. D, usually shy and reserved, displayed leadership qualities during the mental health discussion by coming to the front to write answers and share her input, showing increased confidence.
L, who often blends into the group, became an active participant throughout the week and even took part in the play at the end, highlighting personal growth.
K, known for inconsistent participation, was engaged throughout the entire week, marking a significant shift in his involvement.”
Would you recommend to another secure unit?
“Absolutely”
Why are projects like this important for young people in a secure unit?
“Drama projects are important for young people like ours in a secure setting because they provide a safe space for self-expression, build confidence, and develop social skills. They encourage teamwork, help them explore emotions, and address sensitive topics like mental health in an engaging way, fostering personal growth and resilience.”
Lincolnshire Secure Children’s Home – Rookery Lodge
How did your young people benefit from today’s session?
“The children in secure settings benefit from engaging interventions with people who care. Both Kath and Nikki were engaging with our children, encouraging them even when they became challenging as well as supporting them when they appeared nervous or unsure. The ice breakers were especially important to make sure the children were comfortable and able to explore their own voices and grow in confidence. It was a pleasure to watch our children develop their self-esteem and build trust with the ladies as the day went on”.
“Specifically, the workshop being based on ‘violence’, was important to highlight to the children. The discussions around the impacts of violence and how it can be prevented appeared to resonate with each child differently. They not only learned about the different ways violence can be interpreted but how a ‘change’ in one step could save either one life or many. These conversations gave the children the confidence to share some of their experiences which shows the level of trust the children established by the end of the day”.
Did you see any specific individual make progress, if so, what did you observe and why was this significant?
“Honestly, I was surprised by the level of engagement with certain individuals. Some of our children continue to build positive relationships and as teenagers have not yet found their own identity, making them vulnerable to these types of group interventions. Nikki and Kath went at the pace of each child, they were able to recognise the more outgoing children and stay trauma informed with others. I believe this is what allowed certain children to grow the trust and confidence to find their own voice and contribute to the workshop. One child that is especially vulnerable to feeling judged, who is known to have bad reactions to being laughed at was able to hold his temper and see the fun side in the workshop. This is a significant milestone that will be recorded for him as it is apparent, he has developed this skill whilst being in a secure setting”.
Would you recommend to another secure unit?
“This workshop was relevant to both our welfare children and children in custody. I will be sure to highlight this workshop in the next SAN intervention group meeting so all the secure settings in England will know the benefits of ‘Unlock Drama”.
Why are projects like this important for young people in a secure unit?
“This type of intervention is important in rehabilitating children to go back into the community. The children in our setting complete weekly intervention sessions individually. This workshop allowed the children to discuss violence together and influence each other through their own experiences to make better choices. It is important for the children to understand that they have all witnessed or experienced violence so they can have empathy for each other which only solidifies the positive peer relationships they are building”.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nikki and Kath for visiting with our children today and giving their time to develop the children’s knowledge whilst challenging their mindsets regarding 5 violence and feeling like they have more than one decision. Whilst Nikki said, ‘this workshop has given me the opportunity to look at violence with a fresh prospective of what It means to different people’, I am grateful that this was the learned experience for every child today, it was apparent that they had only considered their own experiences before today. I wouldn’t change a thing about this project. Thank you for visiting and I hope we get to see you again”.
Vinney Green Secure Unit How did your young people benefit from today?
“They became more comfortable with each other and more open to sharing their opinions and thoughts. Several went from saying they weren’t going to do any drama to participating in the production and speaking in front of those in the room. It was adapted well to ensure that all young people had a role, helping build their confidence and sense of inclusion within the group.”
Did you see any specific individual make progress, if so, what did you observe and why was this significant?
“One student can be quite shy and very much sat on the sidelines throughout the first day. Over the 3 days, he joined in with every activity, albeit from afar. He even took the lead in one game and came out of his comfort zone. Although it may not have been obvious, the activities were prompting him to think, reflect and consider other viewpoints that he perhaps may not have in the past. This is key to changing behaviour. Another individual made a comment ‘is this what my victims family felt’. This was significant as it may have been one of the few times, if not the only time he has thought about others effected by his situation.”
Would you recommend to another secure unit?
“Yes.”
Why are projects like this important for young people in a secure unit?
“It’s a different and less obvious way to challenge behaviours and attitudes that have led young people to be in custody. It is also just something unusual and breaks up the routine, giving them something else to think about.”