Strengthening Communities

Sport and Youth Crime Prevention

Creating conditions to reduce anti-social behaviour

The Sport and Youth Crime Prevention programme brings together the criminal justice system and the community sport sector to work together to use the power of sport to prevent young people from becoming engaged in youth crime and violence.

The project works with statutory agencies including the Police, Youth Offending Service, Probation along with the voluntary sector, linking them with over 65 trusted, locally based specialist community sport and activity providers. Importantly, the project works closely with the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit to assist in their efforts to reduce serious youth violence.

Who is it for
Who is it for?
Young people at risk of exploitation or anti-social behaviour in Greater Essex
Prime objective
Prime Objective:
to strengthen the relationship with local organisations and the youth justice system
Second objective
Second Objective:
to use physical activity and sport to prevent exploitation and criminality
 
Hear about the flagship programme for the charity

A significant network of locally trusted organisations has been built by the team and the Active Essex Foundation are becoming more embedded across the place-based teams within Active Essex to ensure a proportionate universalism approach is taken. As a result areas with higher deprivation and inequality, and areas where young people are suffering from a lack of transport links, urban isolation and pockets of exploitation and criminality has helped to tailor the charity's efforts.

Key projects and programmes to take note of, have been the Violence and Vulnerability Unit 'Listening Project' helping partners involved stay more informed about the local need, Sport and Life Skills Project, BoxSmart on the Ropes and Girls Inspired.

 
4,136
young people involved in the youth justice system supported
£164,900
leveraged into the Sport and Youth Crime Prevention project this year
80
local organisations make up the charity's valuable network
 
We’re really pleased that over the past 12 months, this project has supercharged the work being carried out with partners around sport and youth crime prevention. We now have a great working relationship with system partners in the youth justice system, including the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit, Essex, Southend and Thurrock Youth Offending Service, Probation and Essex Police.
Louise Voyce, Relationship Manager
Louise Voyce

As part of the Sport and Youth Crime Prevention project, the Active Essex Foundation have worked in partnership with a number of locally trusted organisations, to develop a programme that works collaboratively with the Essex Youth Offending Services.

The Sport and Life Skills programme provides young people with support and the opportunity to engage in physical activity and sport, alongside mentoring and life skills development, such as living independently, shopping on a budget and CV writing.

Through connecting agencies such as, Essex Youth Justice Service, Police and Essex County Council's Involvement Service, to community providers, the Foundation have been able to create new pathways through the system, advancing impact within new areas of work.

 
This place, and the coaches, feel like a family to me, I trust them completely. The other young people who have attended, have become my friends. I would never have spoken to them outside of this group, and in fact there would have been trouble if we ever did cross paths and crossed postcodes, so this group has really helped.
Young participant
 
 

Two new projects that launched early in 2024 have now become well-embedded within communities. The Girls Inspired course for girls aged 11-16 is designed specifically for females in mind. Referrals are made for young people who are more likely to be exploited or become involved in criminality for a number of reasons.

BoxSmart 'on the ropes' is a targeted youth intervention aimed at young people aged 11-15. Individuals who have been engaging in this project may be at risk or already involved in anti-social behaviour, may be more vulnerable and or at greater risk of exploitation.

 
43
individuals engaged in the BoxSmart programme
100%
increased engagement rate in physical activity
5
Girls Inspired and BoxSmart sessions
 

Key Learnings

It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, in order to focus on ways to improve in the future.

Relationship 1

Insight and relationship led

Relationships and evidence are key to working more closely with the youth justice system

Investment

Future funding opportunities

Increased time spent leveraging further funding opportunities to continue to grow

Stories 1

Capturing case studies

Important to show local organisations the impact of their work on target audiences

Stakeholder

Volume in the system

Multiple gateways, pathways and a crowded network that needs to harness expertise

 
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