Playing with Fire: Training for Those Working with Young People in Conflict

Playing with Fire is a structured manual and training programme designed to help youth and conflict practitioners develop their skills and techniques for working with conflict and violence in the lives of young people. The manual includes ideas and session plans which can be adapted according to the needs of the group. Sessions are made up of exercises and activities that explore situations of conflict and potential violence, practise skills for dealing with them, and rehearse possible strategies and techniques for future use. There is a comprehensive section on training that covers how to deliver the programme, including advice on how to use role-play and work constructively with conflict in the training room. Appendices include alternative session plans and ideas on games and group work exercises. This second edition includes new sessions on working with issues of identity and prejudice and working with wider community issues, as well as new exercises and activities. This invaluable resource will be essential for youth practitioners and those working with young people where conflict may be an issue.

Nic Fine ns a founder member of Leap Confronting Conflict. He has been a specialist youth and conflict practitioner for many years and has written a number of publications on this issue. He now lives in South Africa where he is the Director of Hearts of Men – a community mentoring organisation working with young men at risk of violence and gang activity.

Jo Broadwood is an expert on youth and community conflict, with years of experience in the design and development of programmes for young people at risk and training programmes for practitioners. She was, until 2010, part of the leadership team at Leap.

Fiona Macbeth is currently Teaching Fellow in Applied Drama at the University of Exeter, specialising in training students for work with young people at risk. Nic and Fiona developed the first edition of Playing with Fire whilst working for Leap Confronting Conflict.

Carey Haslam and Nik Pitcher are both senior trainers at Leap and have many years of experience in the design and delivery of youth and conflict programmes.

Carey Haslam and Nik Pitcher are both senior trainers at Leap and have many years of experience in the design and delivery of youth and conflict programmes.