Helping children deal with peer pressure and to stay on the right side of the law are among many tricky issues broached in a new and imaginative citizenship initiative.

The fun resources, called Trouble!, have been developed by West Midlands Police and Coventry Education Support and Advisory Service to help children make the right decisions about anti-social behaviour, safety, and crime.

“We wanted to get important messages across to children in a fun and challenging way,” explains creator Teresa Beddis, a former sociology teacher who, as an advisory teacher with Coventry LEA, joined West Midlands Police to work on youth issues.

At key stage 1, Big Books and an illustrated floor mat aim to encourage children to make positive behavioural choices. For Years 3 and 4, the issues are tackled through short stories and comic strips. By also using a workmat, the class can discuss issues such as graffiti.

The third element (for KS2-4) is a board game with situational cards carrying short scenarios. The number of points a player earns depends on how good a citizen their answer reveals them to be.

A set of Trouble! cards deals with breaking the law and give authentic youth justice penalties. There are also cards dealing with domestic violence, drugs and sexual abuse.

Trouble! KS1 Big Books 1 and 2. Price: pound;17 Teachers’ notes. Price: pound;3 Big Book 3. Price: pound;15 Classroom workmat. Price: pound;19 (whole set pound;65) KS2 Pack of 17 short story books, teachers’ notes and four workmats. Price: pound;35 KS2-4 Board game. Price: pound;35 Teacher Support Pack. Price: pound;15 Contact: Nicky Warner, Community Services Department, West Midlands Police HQ, Lloyd House, Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 9NQ Tel: 0121 626 5328www.west-midlands.police.ukAll proceeds go to Building Blocks, the charitable trust of the West Midlands Police, which funds youth projects in the region