What is the ACT Tool Kit?
When is the ACT Tool Kit available?How do I get a copy?
Why does it work?
Why is the Tool Kit only available to the Fire and Rescue Service?
How much does it cost?
Arson Combated Together (ACT) is a Theatre in Education (TIE) programme specially designed to address the problem of arson in schools. ACT is a multi-faceted teaching aide. A Tool Kit has been developed to enable Fire and Rescue Services to roll out this programme on a local level. The Tool Kit includes:
Fire and Rescue Service Guidance Notes
Advice and guidance on how the Tool Kit can be used, how to get involved in Theatre in Education, creative ideas, information on curriculum links (peer pressure, relationships, consequences and responsibility, how to be ‘risk aware’ and be good citizens).
Teachers’ Resource Pack
Fire Services will be supplied with information packs to give to the teachers of participating schools. The Teachers’ Resource Pack will contain background information, activities, Risk Assessments, lesson plans, useful contacts and activity sheets for use in the classroom.
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Copy of the Script Trying to Get Back Home,
The script pack will include stage directions, information on each of the characters, lists of suggested music, props and costumes with ideas of where these can be found.
Story Cassette
A story cassette tape of Trying to Get Back Home will contain the reading of the play and include sound effects and music to stimulate the students’ imagination, with associated notes.
CD Rom
Information and visuals to accompany Fire and Rescue Service Guidance Notes including clips of the play, stills, example press releases, leaflet template and letters.
The Tool Kit has been sent out to Fire and Rescue Services across the country. Additional Teachers’ Packs can be ordered through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). Email odpm@twoten.press.net or telephone 0870 1226 236. Copies are also available electronically on this website.
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From post-pilot analysis (illustrating students heightened awareness of the risks of arson and growth in their knowledge of risk assessments, to a marked significant decrease in property losses from schools), ACT has shown, on a number of levels, that it is a formula that succeeds in reaching its set objectives.
After a successful pilot in Nottingham in 2000 and a regional launch in Scotland in 2003, a proven infrastructure is now in place. The aim is to ensure that all areas of UK can take advantage of this programme. Our data showed that the campaign proved the link between education, issue awareness and the number of arson attacks, achieving almost a 20% decrease in property losses.
ACT is supported by the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, the Arson Prevention Bureau, the National Community Fire Safety Centre (part of the ODPM), the ODPM-led Arson Control Forum and the Guardian newspaper. It was recently shortlisted for two awards, including being highly commended in the National Business Awards.
ACT links closely with the Curriculum, with lesson plans covering peer pressure, relationships, consequences and responsibility, how to be ‘risk aware’ and citizenship.
Fire Services are the natural medium to assist in spreading ACT’s messages to secondary school students across the UK. They possess not only in-depth knowledge but also practical experience of arson in schools, plus within their role, they take on the responsibility of educating about the risks of fire in all circumstances. Crucially they also have local knowledge about the communities they serve, with links to schools, community groups, the police and so on.
For this reason, and due to the number of schools, we are unable to send the Tool Kit directly to schools. However, we will make the Teachers' Resource Pack (an element of the Tool Kit) available on this website, and will investigate other information channels convenient to schools.
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Zurich Municipal has made the Tool Kits available to all Fire and Rescue Services free of charge, but there may be a small charge for additional packs to cover production.
Teachers’ Resource Packs will need to be ordered by the Fire Service depending on the number of schools involved in the scheme. There could also be an element of cost incurred by fire services in order to ensure the maximum impact of the programme. This would include the arrangement of actors or drama groups, and local administration. We have endeavoured to make the Tool Kit as flexible as possible to help meet the various pressures on resources. There are many ways to use the Tool Kit to suit all budgets.
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