AS part of Barnsley College’s Crime and Justice Week, students heard from a mum whose son was murdered over a decade ago.
Students participated in various workshops and listened to guest speakers and talks allowing them to boost their personal, social and professional development through exploring real-life impact of crimes and understanding the criminal justice system.
The week’s main event was a talk by Alison Cope, whose son Joshua Ribera was murdered in 2013. She now works to prevent youth violence by educating young people on its realities and consequences through her son’s story.
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue provided students with the practical opportunity to learn about the critical work done in this area, including how calls are organised, the equipment used and the physicality of the job.
Over the course of the week, students heard from other speakers from a range of professional backgrounds. This included Raj Holness, who spoke about her challenging upbringing; 2020 Dreams, Gang Prevention Workshop; Lisa Potts spoke about overcoming adversity, mental health and dealing with change; Paul Hannaford, shared his story of transformation and redemption and Garry Rogers, who spoke about his time as a police officer in Greater Manchester Police.
The sessions were organised by Lee Perks, Enterprise Team Leader at Barnsley College. Lee said: “Crime and Justice Week is such a popular week for all staff and students across the College. It is a week packed full of activities that really engage students in a different type of conversation.
“Students heard from our keynote speakers about their lived experience of the Criminal Justice System, take part in workshops around careers in this sector and learn about the importance of crime prevention and the impact that crime can have on individuals, families, and communities. Thank you to all our guests, staff and students for another brilliant Crime and Justice Week.”
