THE parents of Adam Rogers today unveiled an education programme for students in a bid to stop others becoming victims of spontaneous violence.

Pat and Dave will take the initiative into colleges under the Consequences campaign which they launched this week with the Lancashire Telegraph.

The couple resolved to take the step when they were still sat in Royal Blackburn Hospital having lost their 24-year-old son Adam a matter of hours ago.

Pat has 31 years of experience in education, specifically working with 16-19 year olds, and spent her last seven years as assistant principal at St Mary’s College, Blackburn, before retiring just days before Adam’s death to spend more time with her family.

She has drawn on her enjoyment of working with teenagers to put together an educational package which forms the backbone of the ‘Consequences’ campaign.

Its aim is to tell Adam’s story to warn young people, particularly under the age of 25, about the dangers of violence and the serious consequences for both victims and the people who carry out these actions.

Focus groups from local colleges have helped contribute towards tutorial materials including a DVD and worksheets, which the Rogers’ family hope will ‘stand alone’ to be used at schools and colleges across the north west.

Pat explained the package will give an outline of what happened to Adam, the impact on his family and friends, the consequences for ‘the young man’ who attacked him, as well as dramatised scenarios showing how different decisions result in different outcomes.

It will explore strategies for people to walk away without ‘losing face’ and include strong messages for girls to encourage young men not to use violence.

Pat said: “To sit in court and hear how one of the girls there that night describe the blow which hit Adam as a ‘good punch’ was sickening.

“To try and get the message to girls that it takes more guts to walk away is a very strong part of what we’ll do.”

The tutorial can be used both as a drama-based activity or a discussion, with teenagers playing the roles. Pat explained adults just showing and talking at young people does not engage them and has ‘limited impact’.

“With Adam as the focus, it makes him a real person in the scenario. One of the most difficult things for us is to think about if he had just gone out of the club a different way.

“We cannot change that. But if someone starts an aggressive discussion, we want to develop strategies for young people to leave with dignity. These ideas will come from the working groups of young people – it’s so important that these are their suggestions.”

Dave and Pat have admitted working on the Consequences campaign has been a heart-wrenching experience.

Pat said: “Since going through the trauma and then the trial, the easiest thing to say was ‘let us grieve’. It takes a lot out of you. It’s hard to put into words what happened to Adam, it brings it all back again and again.

“But it’s just so important for Adam’s memory, it’s the least we can do for him.”

“The police have told us they’ve never met a family like ours and we’ve taken a lot of strength from that."

Dave and Pat will help launch the education strand in local colleges, but say they don’t want to become professional campaigners.

Pat added: “We have produced this to stand alone. We believe in it and would love it to take off and make some sense out the stupid, random act.”