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PACKING A PUNCH For Young People, By Young People In This Issue: Tattoos Scars or Art? Animal Abuse Why are we so cruel? Bullying Lonely Sentence ISSUE 4

IDENTITY Issue 4

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Page 1: IDENTITY Issue 4

PACKING A PUNCHFor Young People, By Young People

In This Issue:

Tattoos Scars or Art?

Animal Abuse Why are we so cruel?

Bullying Lonely Sentence

ISSUE 4

Page 2: IDENTITY Issue 4

Sunday Night Leagues Birthday Parties

Kids Kickers Football Tiny Tots Football

www.footballfactorywales.co.uk 01633 480398Unit 7, Avondale Industrial Estate, Avondale Road, Cwmbran, Torfaen NP441UD

Holiday Camps Indoor 7 a side Pitches

Page 3: IDENTITY Issue 4

Hello and welcome to this, our new updated, funky and kooky IDENTITY magazine that gives young people a voice and packs one hell of a punch. In this issue we talk about things that matter to us like Bullying & Animal Abuse; we talk careers with the BBC, as well as find out

what you think about Tattoos. IDENTITY isn’t created for young people, it’s there to be read by anyone who wants to know what is on our minds, what concerns us and what makes us laugh. We’re showing that we aren’t all mouth but that we care about our lives, our friends, our world and we want everyone to understand us. Thank You for picking up this copy and enjoy reading.

CONTENTSPage 4 - Working For The BBC Page 6 - Being BulliedPage 8 - Why Do We...?Page 10 - Getting Inked

Page 12 - Our Fashion PagesPage 14 - Animal AbusePage 16 - Short StoryPage 18 - Art Gallery

Page 20 - Food ProjectsPage 21 - Music ProjectsPage 22 - Running

IDENTITY Magazine has been produced under the educational guidance of professional photographer and media expert Darren Warner, on behalf of Randomz & The Arts Council Of Wales. The concept is to give everyone involved tangible evidence of professional work to show

prospective employers or further education establishments. Thanks to Deb Gregory of Llantarnam School, Bernie Smith of Fairwater School & Sam Adams of Community First for their excellent help.

CONTRIBUTORS

Brittany Barber

Ben Hern

Carys Jones

Bradley Hatton

Billi-Angel Parry

Kye Sweeney

Amie Cooper

Cariad Hughes

Claire GreavesJay Ryan

of Randomz

Jordanna Paige Saunders

Kimberley Dunning

Georgia Bunce

Daffydd Cousins

Darren WarnerLead Tutor,

Project Co-ordinator, Creative Concepts & Editor In Chief

With addition contributions from Gail Griffiths, Tyler Pewtner, Richie Constance, Chelsie Smallman & Elizabeth Jayne

Page 4: IDENTITY Issue 4

Thinking about a career in the Media? Well, at this point in time with the Welsh Assembly’s major push on the

creative industries, Pinewood looking to open up film studios near Cardiff and the success of established

businesses like the BBC, Wales has never looked so good to anyone who is thinking about going in this direction.

Even here at IDENTITY, the team have all shown interest in different aspects of the industry so we thought we’d take

a closer look by visiting BBC Wales at their main studios in Llandaff. During the visit we got to meet BETHAN ELFYN,

the Radio Wales presenter who told us a bit about her rise in the industry and life behind the microphone for a

person in her position.

IT’S YOUR LIFE,

watcha gonna do about it?

Career Opportunities in Wales explored

by the IDENTITY Team

With an organisation the size of the BBC there is always a lot more people in

jobs behind the scenes compared to the ones that you see on your TV screens

or hear coming out of the Radio. For every one presenter you may find 10 or

more working to get that programme on air. The IDENTITY team decided to take

a look behind the scenes and see what life was like for people working in such a massive corporation.

Every Tuesday the BBC opens itself up to the public giving guided tours around

the intricate systems of rooms, studios and galleries that form the basis of

the TV centre’s output. During our tour we visited the Radio Studios followed

by the TV Studio where they broadcast the Welsh News and Crimewatch. Some

of the gang even got to sit in Jamie Owen’s seat or pretend to be Derek the

weatherman. The studios looked different during this down time compared

to the bright colourful on-air view we get at 6.30pm every weekday evening

with the computer generated imagery that appears around the presenters.

Overlooking these areas with their lighting and camera systems are the galleries

where the production crew work to keep things to schedule as timing is

important when another programme is ready to go. One of the most interesting

aspects of the tour was meeting Enfys Davies, the continuity announcer in the

Scheduling & Presentation section. Officially called a Channel Director, Enfys’s

roll is to add those voice-over parts that fill the gaps between the programmes

and telling you what to expect next. Her calm, soft voice belies the darkened

room that she works from and the stack of TV screens that sit in front of her

streaming live from London and Wales. If this lady is under any stress she was

too cool to show it. Saying that, as Enfys spoke to us, her voice was like...well...

normal. But when she hit the playback button on her last piece of presentation,

a voice that we all recognised beamed from the speakers. Then after a go at

the green screen, where the gang got to put themselves in different situations,

and meeting a few famous characters from Doctor Who the tour was over. This

insight into the career opportunities at BBC Wales was just amazing.

Bethan Elfyn Interview

The Visit

Career OpportunitiesFancy finding out about job opportunities at the BBC. They are looking for creative, passionate people with great

ideas, but not necessarily people with academic qualifications or production experience. To apply you don’t

necessarily need to have worked in the media or have a degree, but you will need to be able to demonstrate your passion for TV/Radio/Online. This could be through things you’ve done, either at work or personally. For up-to-date

information on apprenticeships and trainee schemes please follow @bbctrainees on Twitter or visit www.bbc.co.uk/careers.

Page 5: IDENTITY Issue 4

How did you get into broadcasting?

I started off as a journalist which was a good way to go as you learn to ask the right questions, how to do

interviews. Initially at university I got involved with student radio and wrote for the student newspaper

both of which gave me an appetite to do more so I did courses to train as a journalist.

What education did you need?

First of all I did an English degree but with the interest in journalism that picked up during that time,

decided to do a post graduate diploma in Journalism. That was the path I chose but you don’t have to

follow my lead. What I did do was lots and lots of unpaid work experience with local papers to get the

practice that I needed, over a year’s worth.

What is life like working as a presenter for the BBC?

I’ve had a very exciting time, especially as I work with music because I love music. I’ve been able to travel

the world recording documentaries with bands and DJ’ing at festivals, presenting on and hosting different

stages, including working at the Reading Festival every summer for 12 years.

Please describe your typical working day?

I get into the office quite early, have to answer loads of emails usually about the different projects I’m

working on. As I’m dealing with a lot of bands going to different festivals as part of the Horizons project I

have to make sure we have permission to film, make sure the bands I’m working with know where to be,

the equipment they need and booking all the staff like cameramen and sound recordists to do the job and

that’s quite a big responsibility. So I mainly do emails from the minute I get in to the minute I leave.

How do you structure the programmes you present?

Firstly, I write a list of songs that I like which I may have heard on other radio shows or stuff that is sent

to me by bands and artists, which I pass on to my producer who does all the hard work and writes a lovely

script for my Saturday programme. The script isn’t like a play script it’s more like a scheduling for the

show; like, this song is played, then you have this interview, etc. More or less a few bullet points of what

we’re going to do and then I fill it in on the show and make it interesting and exciting. I get lots of CDs sent

in from thousands of bands hoping I’ll play their music with the worst thing being that it is impossible to

listen to everything, which is a shame especially as so much has been put into the work.

Please tell us of any on-air mistakes you may have made?

The worst thing is, because I speak both Welsh and English is that I forget words and if you’re tired you may

stumble over the words or trip up. Presenting is about being clear so people can hear and understand you

properly. I’ve also called somebody the wrong name by mistake. A few little mistakes, but luckily nothing

major - but the possibilities for mistakes are endless!

What is it like to know that so many people are listening to you and how have you learned to cope with

that intense pressure of being in the public eye?

Time really. At first I was very nervous and presenting is quite nerve-wracking, but the more you do it the

better you get and the less nervous you are. Practice is the key. I’m in control of the desk with all the

different buttons so you need to know which button to press next.

What do you see as the future roll of the BBC in Wales?

We’re very excited at the moment as we’re getting a new building in central Cardiff which will be much

more interactive with the public, which means more people will be able to come in and see what we’re

doing and creating.

Bethan Elfyn Interview

Bethan Elfyn hosts her Saturday evening show on Radio Wales, playing a mix of classic rock and new Welsh acts. She is also currently promoting young bands from Wales via Horizons.

The Visit

Page 6: IDENTITY Issue 4

In WALES, many

parents ignore their

children’s bullying

behaviour - SAYing

that they prefer

their children to

bully rather than be

bullied, especially if

they are overweight

or have a likelihood

of being bullied. This

IGNORANT attitude is

why Welsh Schools

have TO DEAL WITH

THE worst CASES OF

bullying in the UK.

Bullying isn’t always physical.

It can be emotional as well. By excluding someone from

your social circle just because

they are different can create loneliness.

BulliedBulliedTHE LONELINESS OF BEING

Page 7: IDENTITY Issue 4

Bullying is when someone intimidates or causes harm to another person on purpose. The victims of bullying can be verbally, physically or emotionally assaulted and are often threatened and made to feel frightened. Bullying should not be viewed as an unfortunate but unavoidable part of school life. No child deserves to be bullied - it’s unacceptable behaviour and can have a devastating effect on the victim. Bullying in school can include:verbal harassment (face to face, by phone, text or over the internet), hitting, hair-pulling and kicking, teasing and name-calling, spreading rumours, damaging possessions, frightening and intimidation, exclusion at break times or from social events and networks.

You can recognise that someone is being bullied by the change in their behaviour - like not wanting to go to school, becoming more emotional or clingy towards friends and family. Often they may say they are feeling unwell, often with a headache, are irritable, have anxiety attacks, show aggression towards you or others in your family, wake during the night and have missing or damaged belongings.

You can feel very lonely and upset when friends turn against you, which is a good reason to try to make as many friends as you can, even in difficult times.If the bully has taken your friends away you could have a word with each of your friends individually, at a time when nobody else is around, and just sound them out. You could try to get them talking about something they did at the weekend and then just say that you used to be friends with them and you’re not sure why that changed. You’re probably not the only one being bullied who has to spend break and lunch hour on your own. Keep your eyes open. If you see someone else on their own, try to start a conversation about anything. To have friends you also need to be a friend and you can do that by trying to be open and friendly with people and asking how they are.This isn’t always easy because sometimes the people you are nice to aren’t nice back, but if you just ask someone if they had a nice weekend then it gives them the chance to say something back and then you can try to continue the conversation. People love talking about themselves, so in time you’ll find people who like doing that because you’ll come across as a good listener and then people will enjoy your company and you’ll find you have the same interests as some of these people which can be the first step towards real friendship.

The death of anyone is a difficult thing to bear. But to have to come to terms with a death caused by a futile act which leads to depression and suicide and could have been prevented is beyond belief. So when the BBC announced the

recent death of a 15 year old boy from Tonyrefail in South Wales, after he had taken a lethal amount of pills, a wave of sadness crossed over us. And the cause, according to his mother, was his failure to cope with bullying. With 69% of children in the UK reporting that they have been bullied and at least 20 young people committing the

most extreme end result of suicide due to bullying, it is a major problem that has to be tackled in our schools today. So how do we recognise someone who is being

bullied and what can we as individuals do to stop it?

“If you are neutral in a situation of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu

Bullying isn’t always physical.

It can be emotional as well. By excluding someone from

your social circle just because

they are different can create loneliness.

What Is Bullying?

BulliedBullied

How do we recognise Bullying?

What Can We Do?

Loneliness

Don’t allow yourself to become a bully. Most people know what is right and what is wrong and if you are causing someone to suffer, you are that nasty person who no one will really like.

Be friendly to those people who may not be as sure of themselves as you are. Don’t discriminate against them just because of the way they act, their size or skin colour.

If you know of someone who is being bullied, talk to them, stand up for them, help them. The more people who are brave enough to make a stand, the less effect the bullies have. Be a hero not a zero like the sad bullies.

Being Bullied - Help and Advice is at hand.

Visit www.antibullytorfaen.org.uk, www.bulliesout.com or

www.bullying.co.uk

Page 8: IDENTITY Issue 4

Why do we..?...Sneeze? Ahhh…choo

Something is tickling your nose and

that is making your nervous systems

go wacky and before you know it,

you bellow out a sneeze. This reaction

is controlled by a part of the brain

called the sneeze centre. Your nose gets

agitated, your brain gets the message

and makes you sneeze spraying the air with mucus.

Another reaction to sneezing is that

your eyelids close, a real danger if you

are driving a car. Some common things

that make you sneeze include dust, cold

air and pepper - though the worst can

be when you catch a cold. This is when

a virus has made a temporary home

in your nasal passage causing lots of

swelling and irritation. Many people

also have allergies, sneezing when they

are exposed to things like pets, certain

food, pollen with 1 out of 3 people

having a reaction when exposed to bright light.

...Laugh?Laughter is part of the universal human

vocabulary. All members of the human

race understand it, and unlike English

or French or Swahili we don’t have to

learn to speak it. We’re born with the capacity to laugh.

laughter occurs unconsciously. You don’t

decide to do it. That’s why it’s very hard to fake laughter.

Simply, it just rises up from within us

sending a message out to those around us.Very little is known about the specific

brain mechanisms responsible for

laughter but we do know that it is

triggered by many sensations and

thoughts, and that it activates many parts of the body.

When we laugh, we alter our facial

expressions, we make sounds and often

the muscles of the arms, legs and trunk

are involved requiring modification in our breathing pattern.

The first laughter appears at about 3.5 to

4 months of age, long before we’re able

to speak. Laughter, like crying, is a way

for a child to interact with its parents.

Laughter is not always about humour,

it is more concerned with relationships between people.

.

...Botty Burp?Have you ever been in the classroom and

let one rip by mistake, unable to hold it

back? What will your friends say? Will

they pinch their noses and shout ‘pooey’?

So where does it come from? Well ‘F**T’

can sometimes stand for: Frequency

Actuated Rectal Tremor. What happens is

that gas builds up in our stomach from

swallowing air or chemical reactions

in foods, with certain tasty morsels

being more prone to causing this odious

problems than others. So BEWARE of

sprouts, onions, beans, chewing gums or

fizzy drinks with the most problematic

foods being eggs and cauliflower. The

sound of your botty burp, that infamous

‘Parp’ sound, depends on the speed of

the gas leaving your body though your

rectum. So whoever smelt it, dealt it? .

...Yawn?Ok you’re sitting there in class listening

to the maths teacher rant on about

fractions or something similar when you

feel a rise in your body. Within seconds

your mouth is stretched wide open and

you suddenly emit a strange bellowing

sound complemented by stretching your

arms. You didn’t intend it to happen but

you couldn’t stop it and the maths teacher

is staring straight at you. What just happened?

A yawn, that’s what! The scientific

community still don’t have an explanation

for yawning but there are a number of

theories as to why we open our mouths

wide and show the world that something

is up. One such theory is that a yawn

is the body’s way of controlling brain

temperature. Brains can be vulnerable to

overheating and by yawning we cool it down.

Yawning most often occurs in children

immediately before and after sleep,

during tedious activities and is

commonly associated with tiredness,

stress, overwork, lack of stimulation and boredom.

Believe it or not, yawning can occur on

any species of animal - including cats,

dogs, bears, fish, lizards, horses. Here are a couple of yawing facts:We yawn 240,000 in a lifetime.

The yawn normally lasts six seconds.

Page 9: IDENTITY Issue 4

Why do we..? ...Snore?As soon as we go to sleep, our nasal

airways loosen. But for some people

when they breathe during sleeping their

airways get so narrow that their nasal

passages vibrate from the vocal chords

to the roof of the mouth making a

sound that echoes around the quiet of

the night. This snoring sound can be

worsened by sleeping on your back,

having a nasal obstruction, or being overweight.

There are 15 million snorers in the UK

with a recent British snoring association

survey finding that 41.5% of randomly

selected participants snored. They also

proved that men snore louder than

women, so that’s your Dad you can hear, not your Mum.

Some famous snorers include

Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt,

Churchill and Mussolini while astronauts

rarely snore in space due to the effects of zero gravity.

...Laugh?Laughter is part of the universal human

vocabulary. All members of the human

race understand it, and unlike English

or French or Swahili we don’t have to

learn to speak it. We’re born with the capacity to laugh.

laughter occurs unconsciously. You don’t

decide to do it. That’s why it’s very hard to fake laughter.

Simply, it just rises up from within us

sending a message out to those around us.Very little is known about the specific

brain mechanisms responsible for

laughter but we do know that it is

triggered by many sensations and

thoughts, and that it activates many parts of the body.

When we laugh, we alter our facial

expressions, we make sounds and often

the muscles of the arms, legs and trunk

are involved requiring modification in our breathing pattern.

The first laughter appears at about 3.5 to

4 months of age, long before we’re able

to speak. Laughter, like crying, is a way

for a child to interact with its parents.

Laughter is not always about humour,

it is more concerned with relationships between people.

.

...Cry?You’re watching Bambi or ET or even

some of the bad acting on Eastenders

and suddenly something happens that

stirs your emotions to such a point that

you feel a wetness on your face.

You can’t help it but you can’t stop it. It

can also occur if you fall out of a tree

and face plant the floor. Often it has

an accompanying whining sound. This is crying!What happens when we cry?

A salty fluid full of protein, water, mucus

and oil is released from the lacrimal

gland in the upper, outer region of your

eye. This fluid, better known as tears,

then flows down the surface of your

eye, across your face and smears your mascara.

Crying is a natural emotional response

to certain feelings like sadness, pain or

even happiness, serving an emotional

purpose. It’s a release and a survival

mechanism. It may mean you’re

frustrated, overwhelmed or even just

trying to get attention, like a baby..

Page 10: IDENTITY Issue 4

Photo by

Chelsie Smallman

TATTOO ARTWORK by

Jinx Ink!

According to the Tattooing of Minors Act of 1969

it is ‘an offence to tattoo a person under the age

of 18’ in the UK. Of course most legitimate tattoo

parlours stay both within the law and the hygiene

regulations and provide a quality service. And NO,

just because your Mum’s with you it doesn’t mean

you can get a tat underage.

What The Law Says!

Page 11: IDENTITY Issue 4

GETTING INKEDAre You TRUSTING Enough to HAVE a TATTOO!

There has been a rise in black inked bodies throughout Wales over the last 10 years.

Everywhere you look people have their bodies covered in images, words and symbols that

have both significant and random meanings. Turn on the TV and they’re everywhere.

Even Boy Band superstar Harry Styles has gone from cute floppy haired boy-next-door to

being ravaged by the tattooist with images of a pirate ship, a rose and a love heart on his

arm, a butterfly on his stomach and two very large swallows on his chest. Very random

indeed! Of course this is influential and many young people want to follow their heroes

like young Mister Styles and, as the term goes, get inked. Many of course who want a

tattoo are underage, but due to easy access to tattooist equipment on the internet there has

been a massive rise in the illegal tattoo business. This means people are prepared to come

to your house or provide ‘back street’ establishments with poor or no hygiene controls,

operating under the radar of public health departments. These people have the street term

of scratchers. This has lead to some appalling stories of dangerous infections and poor

artwork. With only a £50 fine for anyone tattooing a minor, there seems to be no deterrent

to stop this illegal business for a quick buck.

COOL OR A FOOL!

HISTORY LESSON!

What You SAY!

BAD EXPERIENCES!A recent story of a 16 year old girl from Fairwater in Cardiff, published on the newspaper internet site Mail

Online, reported that after being tattooed with the words “100% Welsh Lamb” her mother said of the artwork that “the tattooist has branded a child as a piece of meat for

the rest of her life.” She went on to say that “it’s the most disgusting thing to have on a young girl.”While another story tells us about one woman who

almost had her foot amputated after her tattoo became infected. After having a bouquet of flowers tattooed on

her foot, she woke up the next morning to find that her foot had swollen to twice its normal size. After two weeks she decided to visit the hospital where “they diagnosed me with septicaemia (blood poisoning). The doctor

said that if I’d left it any longer, I would be looking at an amputation.”

The concept of the tattoo was brought back to Europe by sailors like James Cook who voyaged around the islands of Tahiti and New Zealand, and is a distinctive form of art from the Polynesian part of the world. The word itself derives from the Tahitian word ‘tatu’.

Done by a professional, a tattoo can be a beautiful addition to a person’s body with many people discovering the joys of having some unique

artwork adorning their bodies.

We did a survey of a 100 young people below the age of 18 to find out their thoughts on having a tattoo. In answer to our first question ‘Would you like to have a tattoo?’ 49 out of 100 said ‘Yes’.Only 35 of the 100 knew the true legal age that you are allowed to be tattooed in the UK.

Answering Yes to the question ‘Do you think that the legal age to have a tattoo should be changed?’ we had many different reasons including:

‘Because younger people want tattoos. Why stop them?’‘Yes, to 21 because they might make the wrong decision.’

‘To 16, because you can own a house, get married so why not be able to make your own choices to have one?’

Page 12: IDENTITY Issue 4

Vulture Designs is a unique Welsh up-cycle clothing project

that fulfils both a social agenda and creative need. With the

constant barrage of wanting designer ‘label’ clothing and the

increasing pressure to ‘fit in’ with the right look, Vulture have

created quality stylish articles while saving money. Up-cycling

is the new cool, especially when using charity shop chic and

donated delights that stem from another era - so this gave them

the idea to take good quality materials and use their elements

like buttons, zips, lace, etc, to redesign unique pieces. Learning

valuable specialist skills in sewing, designing, repairing, they

up-cycle and re-cycle clothes to save money, build confidence,

create identity and represent young people in a positive light. To

find out more visit www.randomz.co.uk.

Sweet, Sassy & SexyMix some great ideas, cool clothes and beautiful girls with bags of attitude and style and you get IDENTITY’s true view of street fashion. Take a

look at these bespoke creations that’ll make you stand out and get noticed.

Modelled by Mel Bowen & Ashleigh ProbertPhotographed by Kai Sweeny & Richie Constance

Clothing by Vulture Designs

Page 13: IDENTITY Issue 4

So you think that fashion designers are only seen with the rich and famous and come from backgrounds that stink of privilege? Rubbish!! Take these four famous designers, all of whom come from a Welsh town round the corner from you.Laura Ashley was born in Merthyr Tydfil in 1925 and went on to become

a household name throughout the world with her fashion and homeware chain stores. Even after her death in 1985 the business retained its presence in the market.Fashion Designer & TV Personality Julien Macdonald was also born

in Merthyr Tydfil and he went on to be named Fashion Designer of the year in 2001.Jeff Banks was born in Ebbw Vale and went on to co-found the Warehouse chain as well as present BBC TV’s The Clothes Show.David Emanuel was born and bought up in Bridgend and found fame when he designed the wedding dress worn by Diana, Princess Of Wales.

Great Welsh Designers

Page 14: IDENTITY Issue 4

What Makes People Animals?Making something suffer can be classed as a form of torture, so imagine looking down into the big, round,

innocent eyes of your loving puppy and ask yourself a question. How can somebody want to harm this

fine animal? But harm them they do, and in Wales there has been a rise of 31% in recent animal cruelty

convictions - a statistic that has trebled in over a year. We need to ask ourselves why this is happening

and what is it about the people of Wales that is making us such a cruel nation?

What Is Animal Abuse?Animal abuse can fall into two categories:

Neglect or Cruelty.Neglect is the failure to provide good quality of

Food, Water, Shelter or Necessary Care withexamples being Starvation, Dehydration, Parasite Infestations and Failure to seek Vet Care when an

animal is in need of medical attention.Cruelty is where a person intentionally harms an

animal for self gratification or other purposes. This can range from beatings to making the animal take

part in illegal acts like Dog Fighting.

A 55-year-old man was disqualified from keeping cats for

life after his cat Ginger was found to be suffering from

a flea infestation that was so bad that a vet commented

he had never seen so many fleas on a cat of that size.

The RSPCA were contacted after the ginger and white

cat was found living in squalid conditions in an upstairs

bedroom of a property in Pontypridd. When she visited

the property, inspector Sophie Daniels found that Ginger

was very thin and lethargic with a coat that was so scant

the skin underneath was visible. He had open sore areas

on his underside and his skin was red. He had significant

scabbing over the top of his head, face and ears.

During interview the defendant admitted that Ginger’s

condition had worsened while the cat had been in

his care. He cited lack of money for failing to get the

appropriate flea treatment Ginger needed. The man had

previously been prosecuted by the RSPCA regarding two

of his dogs that were found in very poor conditions and

with skin problems. He had received a disqualification

but this was restricted to dogs only. On this occasion he

had three lizards in good condition and the court did

not deem it appropriate to disqualify him from owning

all animals. Along with the disqualification he was also

ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work and to pay

£200 costs. After receiving antibiotics and with regular

feeding, Ginger made a fantastic recovery and was

successfully re-homed.

Abuse

Page 15: IDENTITY Issue 4

What Makes People Animals?A married couple from Pembrokeshire were banned from

keeping dogs for five years after their dogs were found to be emaciated and suffering.

The RSPCA were called in February 2013 after police were contacted by a neighbour of the couple who was

so concerned for the dogs’ welfare that he had removed them from the backyard and taken them to his own

home. When Inspector Richard Abbott arrived he found

both dogs, Shadow, a 10-month-old male Whippet, and

Misty, a three-month-old greyhound cross, in very poor

body condition. Both of the dogs were underweight with

clearly protruding ribs, hips and spines. The owner was

cautioned and the dogs were taken to a vet who confirmed that the dogs were emaciated and suffering.

Inspector Abbott said: “These two dogs were so weak

they struggled to stand whilst being examined by the vet.

Misty weighed less than a cat when she was rescued. It is a credit to both dogs and the staff at the animal

centre that Misty & Shadow recovered, both have been re-homed and have settled well in their new homes.”The couple from Milford Haven pleaded guilty to not addressing the

dogs’ weight loss issues and along with the disqualification were each given 12 month community orders and made to pay £500 costs.

The RSPCA answer some of our questions:

Why do you believe people abuse animals?

There are a host of reasons why animal cruelty takes

place – stretching from ignorance and neglect, to

outright, deliberate abuse. In 2013, the RSPCA’s

24-hour Cruelty & Advice Line took in excess of

1.3million calls; and the breadth of issues dealt

with by RSPCA inspectors is massive. Often people

underestimate the responsibilities involved with

animal ownership, and problems escalate from there,

but also many incidents are far more sinister.

Why do you believe that there has been a sharp

rise in animal abuse here in Wales?

Precise reasons are difficult to pinpoint – but,

the economic downturn has potentially had

an impact. The rise in cases in Wales also

highlights the importance of continuing

to promote to people the responsibilities

involved in animal ownership; the RSPCA works

proactively with a number of agencies in seeking to do

this.What is the most common form of abuse that you have

come across? The work of the RSPCA is exceptionally broad. Wales at

present finds itself in the midst of an equine crisis and the

number of horses rescued by RSPCA inspectors increased

fivefold between 2009 and 2013.

What advice do you give to pet owners who can’t cope

with having animals?

When someone brings a pet into their life, it should be for

the rest of that animal’s life - but sometimes unavoidable

circumstances can arise. The RSPCA’s website includes a

host of advice and information for pet owners, including

circumstances where someone may be looking to give up

a pet. The CJS (Criminal Justice System) regard

animal abuse as a serious crime, should the law be

strengthened?The RSPCA strongly supports increased sentencing

for those committing certain animal cruelty offences.

Presently, regardless of the scale of cruelty or suffering an

animal is subjected to, the maximum sentence a person

found guilty of a crime could receive is six months. Of

course, the RSPCA’s primary objective is ‘prevention’, and

prosecutions are only sought as a last resort, but there

must be stronger consequences for those people who think

it is acceptable to be cruel to animals.

Abuse

Lets Talk About Abuse!

If you feel that an animal is being abused in any way and would like to seek advice

on what to do next visit the RSPCA’s website for further details on how to act:

www.rspca.org.uk

Page 16: IDENTITY Issue 4

By Claire Greaves

She taught me that the most dangerous things in life were among the most beautiful. Like the bubbles of brilliant orange erupting out of a magnificent volcano or the glittering water crashing down the Niagara Falls.Florence had eyes that sparkled under the sunlight, perfect waves of sandy hair and beautifully bronzed skin and in the short time I had known her, she had changed me forever.I met her nine months ago on New Year’s Eve. A group of us were standing in the kitchen, Florence leaning against the door frame. I hadn’t seen her before, but there was something mesmerising about her. I needed to know who she was. I downed a glass of champagne, if ever I needed some Dutch courage it was now.“H-Hi, I’m…er…C-Chester,” I stammered awkwardly as my cheeks became considerably warmer. I held out my hand for her to shake but her cold, dainty fingers gripped my hand and led me outside.“Florence,” she whispered, white mist escaping her mouth as she spoke. The freezing air tensed my muscles. She seemed to pause for a moment before grabbing both my hands excitedly.“House parties suck, let’s get out of here,” she exclaimed before swiftly turning and briskly walking up the street. At first I had to jog to catch up with her.“Where are we going?” I panted breathlessly. Florence just smiled, all the while looking straight ahead.I felt a buzz inside me, I was a straight A student, a good boy. A house party was enough excitement for me. There was a thought in my head that maybe I should turn back, I could almost hear my mother’s voice, ‘Chester, go back, be sensible!’ but there was too much intrigue inside of me to physically turn around. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness and I could make out the castle ruins in the distance, as I spotted them Florence began walking faster.“Come on!” she yelled as she started running. I began running too, and I finally felt free. All that mattered was feeling the wind on my face and hearing the whoosh in my ears. I couldn’t feel the pressures of life any more. For a moment, life felt so perfect, so beautiful. And as I looked at Florence’s silhouette ahead of me, I realised that she too was perfect and beautiful.We reached the castle ruins, I had been there before as a child. I remember being so fascinated because the front of the castle is perfect. One wall standing strong with a perfect arch where gates once stood, but past the front of the castle barely anything was left standing; the odd steep staircase leading nowhere, a broken bridge. How can something look so together on the outside and yet be in ruins on the inside?Florence sat on the inside of the ruins against the one perfect wall, and I sat next to her, leaning my head back against the wall whilst trying to catch my breath. Each time I exhaled I saw the white mist exiting my mouth and dancing through the darkness. I’ve always found something so magical about that. Florence was sitting cross-legged playing with a lighter, silently watching the flame as I silently watched my breath.“I love fire,” she said, breaking the silence. As she spoke, she waved her fingers through the flame. “My parents, they want me to become a lawyer and one day run their solicitors. Boys, they just want me in their bed so they can brag to their friends. As for my ‘friends’, I’m sick of their lies and excuses, but there’s something comforting in flames. I’ve been coming here a lot lately, watching the flames dance around and feeling their warmth. I mean so many people see fire as bad, danger, but what about birthday cake candles, the candles on the table at Christmas dinner, BBQs, fireworks, Christingles. Fire is magical.”I looked at her for a moment, unsure of what to say. I didn’t know her and if this place was so special and comforting then why had she brought me here? I’m practically a stranger. We sat in silence for a few minutes whilst I asked the question over and over in my head, unsure of whether or not to ask it. A couple of times I opened my mouth, sure I was going to speak the words and then stopped and wondered whether it was rude to ask.“Florence,” I said, feeling almost surprised at myself for actually speaking. “Why did you bring me here tonight?”“You’re just like me,” she replied without even thinking. “You live your life for other people. Everything you do is to make your parents happy, your friends happy, your teachers happy, but what about you? What choice have you made in your life to make you happy? I know inside

Playing With Fire

Page 17: IDENTITY Issue 4

that you are tired of living this mundane life. I know that, like me, you struggle to find the point in life. Didn’t you feel awkward at the New Year’s party? What are we even celebrating? Every year people live, people die, people get murdered, people get raped, people go on holiday, and people get a job. That is life and that is never going to change. New Year’s is for idiotic optimists. I know you think that too.”I was a bit irked that this stranger, no matter how beautiful, seemed to assume my thoughts and then tell me how I feel and think about things. Florence was pretty much right but I didn’t want to admit that. I didn’t want her to know she was right with my thoughts.“Actually, I quite like New Year’s Eve!” I piped up.“No you don’t!”“How do you know? You don’t even know me! Stop acting like you do!”“Erm…well you’ve missed midnight, so it can’t matter too much to you.”I looked down at my watch - 12.15. Then I looked across to Florence and we both smiled.“Fine,” I said surrendering.Florence stood up and took her cardigan off, holding it up in the air with the tips of her fingers and with her other hand she flicked her lighter. The orange flames caught onto the material.“Happy! New! Flipping! Year!” Florence sarcastically announced.We both watched the fire spreading up the material, the speed of fire always amazes me. It starts off so small and within seconds it’s taken over everything. Florence dropped the burning cardigan onto the floor and we watched it burn out. Florence was right, it is so comforting, the warmth, the colours, the focus. Beautiful.Florence began walking, shouting over her shoulder, “We should do this again sometime!” And with that she was gone.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Florence after that night, I didn’t have her number or address and I really needed to see her. I felt so drawn to her, she fascinated me as much as fire fascinated her. The mundane things didn’t matter to me any more. My mum was worried because I appeared withdrawn, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about Florence.“Chester, for goodness sake, what is wrong with you?” was mum’s favourite new line.After a week of preoccupied thoughts, I decided enough was enough and I made my way up to the castle ruins in the hope Florence would be there. As I was walking I couldn’t help worrying about what I would do or say if she was there, but equally I didn’t want to face the disappointment I would feel if the ruins were empty. I could see the silhouette of the castle in the distance and, like the last time I saw that same silhouette, my heart began to race. I started running. I needed to see if Florence was there. I sprinted around the edge of the perfect wall and there she was, flicking her lighter with several carrier bags next to her. She didn’t seem to notice me, her small body looked so sad. The Florence I saw at the party was outgoing and bubbly, but right now I was seeing this vulnerable, scared girl with wet cheeks. I sat down opposite her, wiping her tears away.“Okay?” I whispered.Florence coughed, swallowed and forced a huge smile. “Of course,” she said loudly and over enthusiastically.“What’s in the bags?”“Pointless, meaningless stuff…Fancy helping me burn it?”“It’d be my pleasure, Florence.”We set about burning the items in the bag one by one. Pieces of paper, school books, children’s books, soft toys. All the while Florence said nothing. We just ignited and watched and occasionally stomped on any grass that the flame decided to claim owner’s rights to. During the silence, I decided not to ask questions. There was clearly something going on in Florence’s life, but maybe she just needed a friend. Someone who wouldn’t ask questions and wouldn’t judge. Florence needed someone and I don’t know why but I needed Florence.It became a daily occurrence. I would scoff my dinner down and run up to the castle. On a good day, Florence would burn things and we would talk about world politics and ending war. On a bad day, I would silently stamp out the flames as Florence pretended she wasn’t crying.I went up there every evening for months. Florence became the most important thing in my life, and the mundane things didn’t matter any more. She was my world. I didn’t see her in a romantic way any more either. She was beautiful but beauty doesn’t make someone or something an item to which everybody has rights. Florence was so precious to me, it hurt me to think how much she was hurting, to see how damaged she was but still she brightened up my life and I hoped I brightened up her life too. I hoped that she spent all day waiting for me to walk round the perfect wall, just as I spent all day waiting to see her leaning against that wall flicking her lighter.One evening, I walked up to the ruins as usual, hands in my pockets, staring down at the ground. It was getting warmer now and I could no longer watch the magical mist exiting my mouth. I walked up to the perfect wall and shouted jokingly, “Hey

honey, I’m home!” But as I walked round the corner I realised Florence wasn’t there. My heart raced, my breathing getting shorter. I knew something was wrong, but I searched around every single lump of rock in the ruins clinging onto the splinter of hope that she would be here. I sat and waited for hours. I couldn’t go home, not without seeing her. I finally accepted that Florence was not coming to the castle tonight, but I had a feeling she was not okay. I set about on a mission to find her. I wouldn’t go home until I had seen her.I jogged down the road towards the house where we first met, looking for her, shouting her name hopelessly. I jogged past the house, straight down the road until I reached a dead end. Collapsing in a heap of tears it occurred to me how much setting fire to things at the castle helped me to cope with my life. I always thought it was for her, but now I knew it was for me too. I pretended I lived this perfect life and that Florence was the damaged one, but I was damaged too. I didn’t know where to look for her and I felt so frustrated that I couldn’t find her. I didn’t know her well enough to know where she was when we needed each other most.I dragged my feet towards home, stopping at the off-license to purchase a lighter before shutting myself in my bedroom, watching the flickering flame blurred by my tears. I woke up some hours later still wearing the clothes from the night before. I picked the lighter up off my bedside cabinet and put it into my pocket, pulling out the piece of paper that was in there. It read:Elsbeth beach, walk across the rock pools, take a torch.

I shoved my feet into my pumps and started running. She was there. I was filled with happiness and excitement knowing she was okay and I was going to see her again. I ran along the beach, the grains of sand stinging my legs and then I carefully navigated my way across the rock pools. I didn’t want Florence to see me soaking wet, smelling of sea water. I made it to the other side and saw the cave. ‘Damn it! I forgot the torch!’ I thought, but it was okay, I could use the flashlight on my phone so long as the battery lasted more than five minutes.“Florence?” I shouted.No answer.I shone the light around the cave and walked in. I could smell something vile, but I thought maybe it was just a cave smell. It was such a beautiful cave, off-white stalagmites and stalactites, water dripping down, silence apart from the drops. Magical, naturally magical. I felt safe here, like Mother Nature herself would protect me from anything. I couldn’t wait to see Florence sitting there at the end and to talk about the beauty of the cave together.I shone my light and saw the end of the tunnel. There was no Florence, just an overwhelming stench, and as I shone my torch down to the ground I saw her lighter lying next to the blackened ground, a heap of ashes on the ground. And that’s when I knew she had gone. Numb with grief, I took my lighter from my pocket and flicked it, the flame catching my shorts alight. I was going to join Florence wherever she may be.“We’ve got another one!” a voice shouted as the excruciating pain went through my legs.

I woke up in a hospital room, police officers at my bedside. I felt dazed. The officers explained to me that someone had seen Florence in a bad state entering the cave and altered the police but it was too late. By the time she was found she had gone and as they went outside to make some calls I had gone in and set myself alight but they managed to stop it in time. They had managed to save me but not my legs.I didn’t care about me, I cared about Florence. Maybe if I’d have put my hand in my pocket and found that note sooner, she would still be here. How could she be gone? I screamed, breaking down, “It’s my fault, it’s my fault. I could’ve saved her.” Tears dripping off my nose, salt water in my mouth.They let me cry and scream until I calmed myself down. It hurt, it felt like I had been ripped out of my body and what was once ‘me’ was now icy cold air. I couldn’t believe I would never see her beauty again.

The next month or so was hard. I had to become so reliant on other people. I needed pushing in my wheelchair or had to ask someone to make me a drink. I hated that I had lost so much independence. I hated that people stared at me when I went out, but I always heard Florence’s voice and I found comfort in that. I knew I was different now. I wasn’t the Chester I used to be and I no longer looked like the Chester I used to be. But Florence had taught me so much in life and she was the reason I was coping with being an amputee. Because Florence would’ve found beauty in my differences, in the way I stood out from the crowd and in the story behind my missing legs. And as for those who judged me, well they were living mundane lives and missing the beauty around them.

IF YOU HAVE A SHORT STORY YOU’D LIKE TO SEE IN PRINT THEN EMAIL US AT

[email protected]

Page 18: IDENTITY Issue 4

PUBLIC ART GALLERY

Page 19: IDENTITY Issue 4

IDENTITY Photography ProjectDuring their time working on IDENTITY magazine, some members of the team were given the opportunity to

explore the basics of photography and photoshop with photographer and tutor Darren Warner. The pictures on these pages are a small selection of the art that they created.

If you have any paintings, photography or designs that you’d like to see on these pages, then email us at [email protected]

Page 20: IDENTITY Issue 4

Tasty Treat

Working with Rick Stein’s head chef lecturer from the Padstow Seafood School, Mark Pucky, Randomz are taking eight young people through the whole process of setting up, creating and working a food stall. The group will soon be touring around music and food festivals throughout Wales, including the Abergavenny

Food Festival. Working with Mark in the kitchens of Cwmbran Centre For Young People, the group completed their Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate, ensuring

they have complete understanding of the basis of working in the kitchen while learning to create a healthy product that is funky, vibrant, and practical to sell at

festivals.Mark said of the team, “They were an outstanding group of young people with a passion for cooking that made my job extremely enjoyable. I hope this will be the

beginning of a fantastic journey for the Randomz Street Food Team.”

Page 21: IDENTITY Issue 4

With their soulful harmonies and flipped out rapping sounds,

The Ramdomz Collective are the new hot act worthy of your

attention. Mentored by Emily Bates & Dan Fry of MLE Music,

who specialise in artist development, these seven

young

people are bringing out tunes that will have you singing

your brains out with their infectious qualities. Check out

their acoustic version of the Imagine Dragons ‘Radioactive’

and I challenge you to not consid

er this the better version.

During the initial 4 month project, the young people were

guided and helped to define and focus their creative vision

while arranging, recording and producing a number of

cover tracks, original songs & music videos. During this

time

they also learnt to market themselves by setting

up social

media outlets while developing strategies to support

their

progression after the mentor supported

project ends.

Visit https://soundcloud.com/mlemusicrecords or http://www.

youtube.com/user/MLEMusic and check out the group.

THE RANDOMZ COLLECTIVE

Momentum’s Rap & DJ Project @ The Pentalk LabBased at the Riverfront Centre in Newport, tutors Gareth Leaman & Jamie Winchester have been busy with some young people creating some cool sounds. First they got to write and rap their own lyrics before laying down some beats and learning the art of DJ’ing. In addition, the guys had a go at filming some skating & BMX biking for a video that they are going to set to the music. The highlight for the group was taking part in a masterclass with US Rapper Raaka and DJ Babu from Los Angeles-based group Dilated People. They taught the boys tactics in survival within the music game, talking about how good manners and respect can get you a long way in life let alone music. Their group Dilated People are one of the most respected hip hop groups within the scene world wide.“Considering these boys haven’t rapped, made beats or DJ’d before, we feel they have done an amazing job with great effort.”And as proof, just read the lyrics to their rap (left) and you’ll see the boys are getting it

right!

‘Wherever you go, music is always by your side,

When you lose your way it is there to be your guide,

So when you get lost, do not go run and hide,

Music is amazing, no-one can deny,

So turn up the volume right to the max,

Blank the world out, it has always got your back,

Listen to some Rock, or maybe Hip Hop, or a deck spinning

DJ making the bass drop,

Headphones blaring walking round my home town,

Do not let anyone turn your music down,

Do not ever frown, let it be your crown,

Music is a feeling, not just a noun,

A true passion full of variety,

But not enough of it, in our society,

Music is the medicine that can cure the youth,

Open your eyes because we are living proof!’

Page 22: IDENTITY Issue 4

There is nothing like the sense of freedom you gain when you put one foot in front of the other and take a step. It doesn’t cost a lot and rarely

relies on machinery or gadgets. This is why running is one of the most popular pastimes in the UK today. And thanks to the charity

Park Run you can be part of a massive family of runners who meet every Saturday morning and use the local spaces to really benefit your health. With over 273 locations nationwide,

these free timed 5km runs aren’t races, more like a mass movement of people with one aim in mind, to get fit. So don’t waste your Saturday morning watching cookery programmes, with local events in Newport, Cardiff, Pontypool, Bryn Bach & Pontypridd, and a junior run for youngsters in Newport on Sunday, you only

need to visit www.parkrun.org.uk to sign up and get going. Go on, take that step!

Free Running

Page 23: IDENTITY Issue 4

Jinx Inx Tattoo Studio, 2 Maendy Square, Cwmbran NP44 1HU.

Tel: 01633 549097; email: [email protected]

Skills, Education, Employment & Enterprise

Academy

Creative Industries Academy

Sports & Healthy Living Academy

Vulture Design & Upcycling

Tel: 01633 480255www.randomz.co.uk

Darren WarnerPhotographer

Long Term & Short Term Photographic CommissionsPhotography & Media Tuition (Qualified Lecturer)

email: [email protected]

Page 24: IDENTITY Issue 4

ComputershopUnit 38 - Inshops

34 The MallCwmbranTorfaen

NP44 1PX