Funding: Around £10,000
Aim: To encourage positive behaviour in young people and boost self-confidence
Football and music are being successfully mixed in Nottingham as part of a project designed to engage young people in positive activities.
The community mentoring project at the Djanogly City Academy in Nottingham launched in September 2009 as part of the academy's early intervention programme.
So far it has included behaviour management and football coaching sessions for Year 8 and 9 students at the academy.
Pupils are also given the chance to produce their own songs and find out more about DJing from well-known music figure DJ Spider.
The project has proved successful in encouraging positive behaviour in young people while boosting their self-confidence.
Organisers say this in turn lowers the risk of them becoming involved in antisocial behaviour, drugs or gang culture and has promoted community cohesion.
For the football aspect of the project, the academy has worked in partnership with The Football Coaching Company to provide mentoring for students at the academy.
Pam Weston, vice principal at Djanogly City Academy Nottingham, says: "The project has helped students to think about the consequences of their behaviour and is a very important part of our early intervention programme here at the academy.
"Students have been able to learn new skills and grow in confidence.
"More than anything it has allowed them to be inspired by their peers."
The project has been supported by charity the Partnership Council, Nottingham's Crime and Drugs Partnership, DrugAware, the European Social Fund, Talk to Frank and Kick It Out (UK football's anti-racism campaign).
