South Wales Police Youth Trust and Cardiff Metropolitan University launch new early intervention sport scheme

THE South Wales Police Youth Trust and Cardiff Metropolitan University are pleased to announce the launch of their new collaborative project, Step into Sport.

South Wales Police Youth Trust is a charity which offers grants to organisations and projects offering young people an alternative path than that of being drawn into crime, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse. Its aim is for those young people who have had some experience of the criminal justice system to be given the chance to build the foundations to make more positive life choices, have better relationships and improved mental and physical well-being.

Step into Sport is a project that aims to use the value of sport for social change and strong community engagement in order to provide early intervention for youth generated crimes. It is hoped that by engaging in these activities young people will be steered away from criminal behaviour.

Funding of £20,000 has been made available for this project by the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and matched by Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said: “This project is so important in providing vulnerable young people in Cardiff with safe opportunities to develop and grow. It is essential that we give them the opportunity to find a path that leads them away from the potential of offending and allows them to lead healthy, safe and successful lives.

“It is superb that the university is making such a significant contribution to this work and my hope that this project will not simply be one single example of what we can achieve together but will act as a catalyst for bringing partners together to develop and deliver innovative, long term opportunities for our young people.”

The project has been a priority for the Police and Crime Commissioners Office for the past two years and will be the largest grant ever given by the Youth Trust, which was generously matched by Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Vice-Chancellor and President of Cardiff Metropolitan University, Professor Cara Aitchison added: “Cardiff Met places great emphasis on educational and social transformation and we are therefore delighted to work collaboratively on a project which will improve the physical and mental health of those within the youth justice system in the capital.

“We have an unparalleled history of nurturing sporting talent across our campuses and local communities and fully understand the power of sport as an effective means for promoting opportunities which will lead to building confidence, competence and connectivity.”

The project will be based in Cardiff with numerous clubs benefitting from the resources and experience:

· Caerau Ely RFC and Caerau Ely FC

· Cardiff City Table Tennis Club

· GLL Leisure

· Hangar Human Performance Centre

· Llanrumney Phoenix Boxing Club

· Tiger Bay ABC

Resources will also be contributed from partners in Sport Cardiff, the Youth Justice Service and the Cardiff Youth Service, all of whom will work together to empower young people to build confidence, motivation and realise their potential for a more positive future.

From today (Monday 17th May) the project will be live and referrals of young people into the programme will start to be accepted.