Case studies

Background/what the project does:
The aim of the Positive Futures programme is to use sport to reduce anti-social behaviour, crime and drug misuse among 10-16 year olds from disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The Sunderland project uses exciting sports like go-karting, water polo, football, water sports, jeep building, outdoor pursuits and sailing to engage young people from areas including Southwick and North Washington on the north side of the city, former fishing and ship building areas that are now blighted by high unemployment and crime.

Among the top five per cent of most deprived wards in the country, they have been earmarked as the focus for Positive Future' work. The project has bought four go-karts of its own and had another one donated by a benefactor who read about the project in a local paper. The team has also secured cheap mini-bus transport to the karting centre.

They take socially excluded children, at risk from drugs, crime and truancy, snowboarding and skiing at a dry slope in Sunderland and give them access to sports and activities that would otherwise be out of their reach.

A partnership with the Salvation Army has produced a youth club in North Washington and several local schools take part in the project. Educational welfare officers, youth offending teams, police and voluntary sector groups refer young people to the project.

What makes it different:
Jane decided to develop the project using local people who knew the area and the kids. People who grew up in Southwick. "That' the only way it was going to work," she says. Among the few existing facilities is a small sports hall, where Jane has organised a drop in session for older teenagers offering football and weights training. She' hoping to establish open "educational" sessions on Wednesday evenings, including teenage parent' classes, talks on crime and drugs from the local police officer, and careers advice from the Connexions service.

Quotes:
"There' just nothing there for these young people, except drugs, family abuse, being in trouble with the police - our kids have got no chance. Some of their backgrounds are the worst you can imagine. They-ve been through everything, stuff you would' wish on your worst enemy. So this project is wonderful for them.

"These children have parents involved in crime, child protection issues, and learning difficulties. Just to get them to meet other kids and forget about everything else for a while is a victory.-

Last Updated: 29/07/2003