Burnley Youth Inclusion Project

Funding: £164,000 from the Youth Justice Board

Aim: To reduce levels of antisocial behaviour

A youth project run by crime reduction charity Nacro has helped reduce rates of antisocial behaviour on some of the most troubled estates in Burnley by more than 40 per cent.

Established in 2005, the Burnley Youth Inclusion Project provides positive activities to disadvantaged young people aged 13 to 17 who are at risk of getting involved in crime, antisocial behaviour, truancy or who may be faced with social exclusion.

Nacro project workers help young people address problems such as alcohol and drug misuse, family breakdown and anger management, after assessing the needs of each young person. Targeted action plans are drawn up and reviewed monthly.

During the summer holidays, the project provides more than 2,000 hours of activities for around 80 young people.

According to statistics from Lancashire Constabulary, between 2006 and 2009 in Burnley's Trinity Ward, antisocial behaviour dropped by 44 per cent and criminal damage by 24.5 per cent, while in Coal Clough with Deerplay ward they have been cut by 28 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

Nacro project manager Rebecca Hodgson says: "Many of the young people we work with have poor self-esteem and low aspirations for the future. We help them to start believing in themselves."

Seventeen-year-old Chloe Pye has been on the project for more than a year. "Before I came here my mum was getting worried about me because I was drinking and getting involved in antisocial behaviour," she says. "I've changed so much since then. The Nacro staff have taught me how my behaviour effects other people, I didn't really understand that before."