The CMMF funded a series of ‘Introductory Workshops’ at the Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation’ (CYTO) – a well-established and creative Youth Theatre that stages a wide range of drama, dance and musical work – including both scripted and devised work relating to the issues facing young people today.

A group of young people from a number of clubs and schools in the Colchester area were recruited by The Footprints Theatre Company for this first Performing Arts Activity Project funded by the CMMF – a project that would involve them in completely devising and performing a short play based in, and about the history of, the ‘disused’ St Martin’s Church in the centre of the town.

This project, initiated through former Markhouse Drama Club member Ray Aylott, was very much related to his experiences and concerns as a Community Police Officer working with many local young people and dealing with the pressures and issues of ‘knife crime’ – also upon his belief that peer education by the young people themselves is one of the most positive ways forward.