The team that runs Positive Futures, the Home Office-backed crime-reduction programme, is developing a qualification for practitioners on sports-based programmes. The group is working closely with Skills Active, the sector skills council for activities and learning.

Positive Futures is also seeking accreditation for its existing qualification for frontline Positive Futures staff. This consists of 16 modules split between youth and community work, sports development, drugs and alcohol education, and co-ordination and management skills.

Nacro and Crime Concern will assess the youth work and drugs elements respectively, while standards consultancy MAPS will assess management skills.

Last week, Sue Campbell, chair of UK Sport, told a Positive Futures conference: "There are thousands of people who might want to work in this area."

See Analysis, p9.