It's having a positive impact on young people
Run by Fleetwood Town Community Trust and delivered in five locations across Wyre, the ‘turn up & play’ weekly football sessions received £14,400 from the Commissioner for the yearlong project – match funded by the Trust themselves – with the sessions aimed at reaching those young people who may otherwise not be engaged in the community and providing around 3,500 places for diversionary activity across the borough.
The sessions provide the opportunity to work with professional coaches, improve their health and wellbeing and build friendships – ultimately creating a more cohesive community which encourages young people in the area to not take part in anti-social behaviour.
Those taking part are also offered opportunities to develop these skills further, signposting to partner organisations on further developing an interest in sports further and the chance to volunteer alongside professional coaches.
Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner who visited the session taking place at Milton Street in Fleetwood, said:
“It was great to visit one of the sessions being run by Fleetwood Town Community Trust, and hearing the really positive stories about how individuals and areas as a whole have benefited from this project.
“Developing safe and confident communities is a key part of my Police and Crime Plan, which is why it is important to support initiatives that encourages personal and social development and makes a positive impact in their neighbourhood.
“It has been really encouraging to hear about the levels of engagement across the several months the project has been running and it is also great to hear that many attending have been given the opportunity to progress further, with help from the Community Trust.
John Hartley, Community Sports Development Officer at Fleetwood Town Community Trust said:
“The funding has allowed us to offer young people aged 11-18 the opportunity to play various sports within a safe environment with qualified and experienced coaches.
“It’s great to see the impact that these activities have made over the past 12 months and look for this to develop further. Since having recent visits from Lancashire Constabulary, 82% of the young people have expressed that they feel confident to speak more openly about crime within their local region.”
