UBC Press Playing with Fire book Paperback 240 pages

Playing with Fire is a structured manual and training programme to help youth and conflict practitioners work with young people caught up in conflict and violence. All aspects of conflict are covered, from the initial igniting spark to the roaring blaze. The manual includes ideas and session plans that can be adapted to the needs of a particular group. Sessions include exercises and activities that explore situations of conflict, develop skills to deal with them, and rehearse techniques for future use. The training section outlines how to deliver the programme, including how to use role-play and work constructively with conflict in the training room. 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. Appendices include alternative session plans and ideas on games and group work exercises. This is a valuable guide for youth practitioners and all those working with young people who face conflict or violence.

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 Fine now lives in South Africa where he is the Director of Hearts of Men a community mentoring programme working with young men at risk of violence and gang activity. Nic and Fiona developed the first edition of Playing with Fire whilst working for Leap Confronting Conflict. 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. 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.