The Department for Children, Schools and Families recently set aside £1.4m to tackle teenage binge drinking this summer in almost 70 high crime areas in the hope that cracking down on alcohol abuse will reduce rates of antisocial behaviour in these communities. Along with these activities, some welcome community programmes have been established in many areas to help steer young people towards positive activities during the summer break.
CASE STUDY 1
The Big Swing Adventure Playground is a charitable organisation that aims to inspire a creative alternative to antisocial behaviour for young people in Bradford. This year-round facility for children aged seven to 15 offers a self-created playground, building programmes, team games, a zip wire and painting activities to help young people gain confidence, build self-esteem and develop teamwork skills. A new project to build a pond is also currently in progress.
The facilities are open access, allowing children to come and go as they please, and serve around 400 local young people. The programme has been running successfully since 2006 in partnership with the local council and police. The positive impact it is having in decreasing crime levels has now led to its expansion in September to include day lessons for children excluded from school.
CASE STUDY 2
The Youth Academy, part of the Positive Activities for Young People programme in West Sussex, offers eight different summer programmes specifically targeted at vulnerable young people. The programmes have been developed in an effort to reduce crime, truancy and antisocial behaviour, while assisting young people with complex issues.
Upon referral to the academy, participants take part in positive activities that help them to develop communication skills, self-discipline and self-respect. They are encouraged to get involved in activities such as circus performance, outdoor adventure activities, art programmes, street dancing and go-kart engineering. Programmes such as first aid, food hygiene, dramatic performance and woodland management are also available during term-time so there is something on offer all year round. More than 400 young people have taken part in the programme, with many going on to return to school full-time, find employment or achieve nationally recognised awards.
- Anne Longfield is chief executive of 4Children.
