£5m bid to reduce crime gets young people to start playing football, boxing and rugby

The Deputy Prime Minister announced today (January 21, 2023) that thousands of at-risk teens should pick up their rackets and lace up their football boots to stay straight and narrow. It was announced as part of the efforts of

More than 200 grassroots organizations in England and Wales have been awarded cash from the government’s £5m Youth Justice Sports Fund to promote local sports, from climbing to kayaking, to help keep vulnerable young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour. I am running a plan.

Although the number of children involved in crime is at a historic low, down 81% since 2010, youth crime still costs taxpayers £1.5 billion a year. Research shows that 80% of many adult offenders began their criminal careers as children, making the need to keep more young people away from breaking the law all the more important.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab announced the news while visiting a local school in Tottenham, north London, for one of the projects funded through Life.

Joined by ThruLife founder Richard Allicock and Sky Sports critic Joby McAnuff, the Deputy Prime Minister traded in trainers as he attended penalty practice with youngsters at the after-school soccer club.

Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney General and Prime Minister Dominic Raab said:

I know firsthand how powerful sports and mentoring can be in transforming the lives of young people.

Sport has the power to build confidence, build resilience and teach discipline, and there is evidence that sport is effective in reducing youth crime. That’s why we support her 200+ organizations in England and Wales to encourage more young people to participate in sport and avoid crime.

One of the surest ways to keep young people on the right track is to give them the skills to succeed in life. This is what a sports plan can offer that builds resilience, confidence and discipline in young people while engaging in fun activities.

There is emerging evidence that sports-based intervention programs, such as the Youth Sports Fund, can lead to amelioration of crime. Early intervention, when done properly, has been shown to reduce crime.

Family assistance programs have shown a 35% reduction in youth prison sentences and a 15% reduction in youth convictions.

Former Crystal Palace midfielder, Sky Sports commentator and ThruLife ambassador Jobi McAnuff said:

Organizations like ThruLife are doing a great job. I know how important activities and places like this are and especially in a neighborhood like this where I grew up, it’s important to have positive role models.

There are no shortcuts in life, whether it’s becoming a professional soccer player or what you want to achieve. Life has hard times, so if you’re passionate about something like a sport, it helps you stay positive and committed.

Tom*, a regular Through Life participant, said:

ThruLife has given me confidence through the sport sessions I attend. Teaching me and others a variety of skills helps me better navigate my life journey and make positive choices.

Richard Allicock, founder of Thru Life, said:

We are delighted to have received this funding. This funding will not only help us continue the positive work we are doing in our community, but it will also help us harness the power of sport through our mentoring to engage more young people across Haringey Borough. Offers that help expand our offer.

Last November, the Deputy Prime Minister invited sports charities and organizations across the country to bid for a £5m fund, with hundreds of sports schemes applied.

Today, over 200 organizations in England and Wales have been awarded cash to carry out projects ranging from climbing to boxing with vulnerable teenagers. Bidders were evaluated on their ability to demonstrate a track record of helping young people at risk of committing crime and anti-social behavior keep their noses clean.

The £5m funding builds on existing government support for local government youth crime teams across the country, with more than £730m in funding provided over the past five years.

Stuart Andrew, Minister for Sport, Civil Society and Youth, said:

We believe every young person deserves the best start in life. Playing sports is a great way to build focus and discipline while improving physical health and keeping people from getting involved in crime.

This funding will help keep people on the right track from the start.

The Sports Fund is coordinated by StreetGames and the Alliance of Sport for Criminal Justice, and is backed by the Sport for Development Coalition, an umbrella organization of over 250 charities in the sports sector.

Stuart Felce, Director of Sports and Community Safety at StreetGames, said:

At StreetGames, we believe that community sports, delivered in the right way, can make a difference in the lives of children and the communities in which they live. We are very excited to partner with the Sport for Development Coalition and the Alliance of Sport in Criminal. Justice to deliver this ambitious new program from the Department of Justice. This investment in sports supports volunteer and community sports organizations that conduct targeted activities to enhance positive outcomes for vulnerable children, providing them with the practical and emotional support they need to thrive. and help keep children and their communities safe.

Hitesh Patel, Executive Director of the Coalition, added:

Reducing crime and anti-social behavior is a core element of the Coalition’s #OpenGoal framework. This framework shows how the multiple returns on investment generated by sport for development can help reduce public costs significantly. We are pleased to work with StreetGames and the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice to enable this new funding to support and strengthen organizations that are already demonstrating social impact on local communities.

The funds also deliver on the commitments made in the White Paper on Prison Strategy, published in December 2022, to reduce youth crime and create safer streets.

Note to editors

• Tom’s name has been changed to protect his identity.

• More than three-quarters of adult multiple offenders received their first warning or conviction during childhood.

• The Youth Justice Sports Fund is the first of its kind by the Ministry of Justice and is led by the Ministry of Justice to encourage young people across the country to participate in a variety of sports workshops, programs and classes to provide them with essential skills while avoiding crime. We encourage you to build life skills. .
• About the Sport for Development Coalition: The Coalition brings together over 250 charities, networks and organizations to use targeted sport and physical activity-based interventions to address major health and social inequalities across the UK. are dealing with. This includes national networks such as StreetGames and Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice. Through the #OpenGoal framework, the Coalition aims to demonstrate the multiple returns on investment that targeted interventions can generate in disadvantaged communities and the potential public cost savings for policymakers. The Coalition is funded by Sport England, Comic Relief and Laureus. For more information and media enquiries, please contact Simon Lansley at 07736 162839 [email protected].

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