Project notes

Goals: The project aims to offer routes into education, training, and employment using sport as an engagement tool.

Funding: The project costs 28,383 a year to run. It is supported by Sport England's Active Community Fund and received 86,000 over three years. It also receives smaller grants from Connexions.

"Sport is a great leveller in society, and something that can engage many young people," says Val Keen, head of services for the Northeast of England at the Depaul Trust.

To this end, the trust has been running a sports development project in Newcastle for the past two-and-a-half years.

"Although a lot of these young people are receiving help for immediate priorities, our project aims to help them realise their potential in terms of skills, teamwork and confidence building," says Keen. "It's not compulsory, but they can work towards either a sports coaching qualification or a community sports leadership award."