Only a Kiss

Phillip Hodson, a trained counsellor who is well-known through radio in the UK, has written the script for this video which comes together with a useful handbook In the form of a ‘soap’ with excellent actors, it explores the consequences of relationships that are unfair and emotionally damaging. Its purpose is to alert young people to the fact that there are different forms of abusive relationships.

Anyone watching this video is soon aware of different ways that words and behaviour can hurt, and will recognize that the more hidden types of abuse can take many shapes. Abuse is not just sexual or physical and includes bullying, belittling, neglect, squashing other people’s feelings, teasing and more. Because the video is entirely in the form of a drama, it holds the attention of the viewer throughout and will appeal to its targeted audience.

The package - produced by The Prince’s Trust - is primarily aimed at teachers working with 13-16 year olds, but it will also be relevant for anyone wanting to help adolescents to be on the alert for more hidden forms of ridicule and humiliation.

The handbook gives guidance about how to use the material and suggests exercises, including the text for a leaflet that teachers can handout; it covers legal issues and includes a very comprehensive list of agencies in the UK which will help deal with abuse.

Phillip Hodson focusses discussion on a subject which troubles too many young people: in the handbook he gives frightening statistics of the number of children on the receiving end of abuse and looks at the long term effect of a damaging relationship in later life. His extremely effective presentation deserves very wide exposure as it will go a long way to helping those who find themselves in this predicament without always being able to identify what is wrong.

Available from The Prince’s Trust, 18 Park Square East, London NW l 4LH

Telephone: +44 20 7543 1234   £16 includes £2 p&p

Phillip Hodson has a website at Phillip@philliphodson.co.uk