Young people

Positive Futures is a national sports and leisure activities based social inclusion programme. By engaging young people in sport and other activities, Positive Futures aims to build relationships between responsible adults and young people based on mutual trust and respect in order to create new opportunities for alternative lifestyles.

The programme aims to use sport as a catalyst to encourage participants to make decisions for themselves, and to take self-determined steps towards a positive future. Steering young people towards educational and employment opportunities is at the heart of the programmes' agenda.

On April 1 2006, Crime Concern, (now Rainer Crime Concern) a national charity working across England and Wales, took over the challenge of managing Positive Futures nationally. This followed a competitive tender exercise. For further information on this announcement visit the Press Office website.  Previously the programme was managed in-house within the Home Office's Drug Strategy Directorate. 

Locally, the programme is delivered by a range of agencies including local authorities, charities, sports clubs and crime-reduction agencies.

The programme is aimed at young people from 10-19 years of age. Priority is given to engaging those young people living in deprived neighbourhoods.

Young people are referred to projects by local statutory and voluntary agencies, e.g. Youth Offending Teams and Youth Inclusion Programmes, the police, social services and schools. Referrals by these agencies make up 51% of referrals.

39% of new project participants are community referrals these include self-referrals, referrals as a result of outreach work and through word of mouth.

Positive Futures receives £5.9m each year from the Home Office, as well as £3m over a two-year period from the Football Foundation.

• Outreach and detached work to contact young people at risk of exclusion.
• Coaching skills across a range of sports
• Opportunities to play competitively in newly established or existing sports clubs.
• Education programmes, including those by Sports Leaders UK, National Sports Governing Bodies, Youth Achievement Awards and Open College Network.
• Leadership skills and mentoring programmes.
• Opportunities for volunteering, casual and part-time work and pathways to full-time employment.

Projects have expanded the range of activities they offer. Although football remains overwhelmingly the most widespread activity, projects now often include outdoor pursuits such as canoeing, climbing, BMXing and abseiling. Many projects are also embracing the creative arts and drama. It is clear from the monitoring and evaluation that has taken place that these activities can help the personal and social development of participants.

There are currently over 120 Positive Futures projects in operation.

There are over 120 projects running. They run in each of the 30 areas worst affected by drug-related crime in the country. Between 1 October 2006 and 30 September 2007:

• over 48,000 young people attended projects across the country
• nearly 1.1 million contact hours were invested with young people
• 76% of those engaged in the programme had been in contact for periods in excess of 12 weeks

For more information about projects, please contact:
Positive Futures Team
Rainer Crime Concern
89 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7TP
Telephone: 020 7820 6000
Email: positive.futures@crimeconcern.org.uk
Website: www.crimeconcern.org.uk

Positive Futures projects have made consistent progress with the inclusion and development of substance misuse interventions. These steps have been strengthened by the growing confidence of staff and the strengthening of relationships between staff, project partners and participants.
 
Substance misuse interventions delivered by lead agency staff and project partners include the provision of:

• Leaflets / Literature – Including the FRANK campaign;
• Informal discussions / Advice through sport sessions and healthy lifestyle programmes;
• Workshops; and
• Drop in Surgeries

Positive Futures aims to create opportunities to address the multiple issues associated with substance misuse.

The Football foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity and receives funding from The Premier League, The FA, Sport England, and the Government.

Further information about the Football Foundation can be found at the following Website:

www.footballfoundation.org.uk

All of Positive Futures reports can be downloaded or ordered on the publications page.