Published: 23 May 2007
Lambeth North Positive Futures Project
Football, dance, boxing and carpentry classes are helping steer young people from crime and anti-social behaviour, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker claimed during a joint visit to a south London community centre with Children's Minister Beverley Hughes.
Lambeth North Positive Futures Project is a good example of the kind of project which, through activities & training, hosts a network of support for young people aged 11 to 18 and helps prevent them from embarking on a life of crime.
The ultimate aim of the project is to broaden the horizons of young people for the benefit of them and the whole community.
The visit was arranged after the Prime Minister's guns & gangs summit that took place in February.
At the summit of Government Ministers, police and community leaders, it was recognised by all that tackling gang culture and gun and knife crime is best done through a three-pronged strategy which involves:
· ensuring police are equipped to tackle crime
· giving police and the courts the powers they need to deal with offenders, and
· empowering communities to tackle crime and gang culture
Mr Coaker said:
"We have introduced tough laws to tackle crime but we have always recognised that the Government cannot do it on its own.
That is why we tackle gang culture and gun and knife crime by a policy of policing, powers and prevention.
Lambeth North is an inspirational example of the kind of project that makes a big contribution to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour by keeping young people out of trouble. Its vocational training programme equips young people with the skills they need to make a success of their lives.
There are no overnight solutions to tackling gang culture and gun and knife crime. But it is through the pro-active approach adopted by the Lambeth project that many young people are engaged in worthwhile activities.
Crime and violent crime have fallen in Lambeth since 2004, but I know we must constantly strive to enhance safety by working in partnership with police and communities."
Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Beverley Hughes said:
"We need to teach our young people how to recognise and manage risk and help them make safer choices.
They need to appreciate when pressure from others threatens their personal safety. This excellent project provides a safe environment for young people to learn and enjoy themselves - I wish them well.
At the end of March, to celebrate the Youth Opportunity and Capital Funds, I presented awards to projects providing positive activities for young people.
One of these awards was to the Marcus Lipton Youth Club in Lambeth, to a project designed to help tackle gang membership in that area by bringing young people together.
It is important that young people engage in positive activities - but that we also give young people the opportunity to shape the positive activities that help prevent them engaging in anti-social behaviour."
The Home Office funds the £5.9 million Positive Futures programme in 120 centres around England and Wales.
Almost 30,000 young people take part in its sport and vocational programmes. Of those involved in Positive Futures projects over three-quarters believed they cut anti-social behaviour and more than two-thirds believed they cut crime.
Its National Tackling Drugs Day on Wednesday 23 May.
Further information
Positive Futures Project
Every Child Matters – Positive Futures
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