Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews met youngsters being put through their paces at a summer holiday sports scheme he has funded to keep boredom at bay.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner visited St Matthews' Big Local Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) where sessions are running throughout the school holidays and beyond to help prevent Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and build relationships between the police and young people.
The charity received more than £23k in two grants last year from the Commissioner's Safety Fund.
The first, worth £9,995k, funded coaching, hire and equipment costs for the Supporting a Safer City Through Sports Engagement project. The scheme provides daily open access sports activities during half terms and summer holidays with the addition of 20 late-night football sessions on Friday evenings.
The second, The Big Smile, worth £13,260k, funds coaching for daily sports provision straight after school into the late evening and throughout weekends.
Both projects have achieved impressive engagement levels since launching with more than 900 young people attending across the half terms in October 2022, February 2023 and Easter Holidays in 2023.
During the visit, the PCC met charity manager Simon Johnson and head coach Ish Latif.
Mr Matthews said: "Both of these schemes have been a resounding success, attracting hundreds of participants since launching. I know how much they have been welcomed by the St Matthews community and parents for helping to keep youngsters active and occupied during the school holidays.
"The young people I met during my visit are clearly enjoying these extra sporting activities and this is backed up by a recent survey of participants which revealed many have felt safer since attending the sessions through an uplift in personal confidence and increased connections with their community.
"Time and time again, I have seen how sports and recreational provision give young people a purpose and a focus to develop their character. Funding such schemes is important to my strategy to prevent crime and ASB as mapped out in my Police and Crime Plan. I'm grateful for Simon and Ish's time helping me to understand this scheme's success and look forward to further progress in the future."
Recent findings from a Big Local survey show the projects have had a positive impact on young people's attitudes and behaviour towards youth violence and crime. The research also revealed how sessions had provided participants with opportunities to connect with others, engage in community activities and broaden their awareness of community issues. These experiences have helped the young people to develop a greater sense of involvement and pride with their communities.
