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Friday Night keeps kids out of trouble
A new branch of a youth activities programme already attracting large numbers in a bid to divert teenagers from anti-social behaviour is to open in Armley, Leeds.
The existing "Friday Night Project" clubs at the South Leeds and Middleton sports centres financed by the Government's Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) Fund are pulling in a total of 155 regulars.
Activities offered by the projects include swimming, arts and crafts.
The new centre to be based at the Armley Leisure Centre will be officially unveiled during Leeds City Council's two-day "Easter Breeze" youth festival on April 16 and 17.
It is hoped that the Friday Night Project concept aimed at providing positive diversionary activity opportunties for teenagers will be rolled out across Leeds.
In addition to Government funding, the scheme is also backed by Leeds City Council's Youth Service, Safer Leeds Partnership, Sure Start, the extended schools service, the Inner South Area Committee, Health for All (Leeds), Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL), Leeds Federated Housing Association, Nacro and St Luke's Community and Regeneration Enterprises.
Funding from PAYP covers the cost of staffing, administration, equipment, advertising and facilities hire. Leeds City Council is receiving 4.3m of PAYP funding until 2011, as part of the Government's Aiming High for Young People strategy.
Co-ordinator Laura Hobman, who works for Leeds City Council's Out of School Activities Team, said that the three areas where the Friday Night centres had been set up had been specifically targeted for the scheme. Young people in those districts had been identified as being most at risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour.
She said: "Research showed us that there wasn't much for teenagers to do in these areas, and as a result they were at risk of getting involved in negative behaviour.
"We also discovered that anti-social behaviour among young people in these areas were most likely to occur on Friday evenings.
"The aim of the project is to show young people that there are activities out there for them that they can enjoy."
The project was devised by Jason Tabor, area manager for the Out of School Activities Team.
Laura added: "We have been running the project in South Leeds for just over a year, and we get around 100 young people regularly attending, while Middleton – which was set up only in November – brings in around 55 teenagers every week.
"It's clear that we're reaching large numbers of young people, and that they appreciate what's on offer. We're also planning to introduce an awards scheme for regular attendance."
"We hope that the scheme in Armley will have just as positive an impact," she added.
John Paxton, head of Youth Services at Leeds City Council, said: "The Council is committed to providing a range of activities for young people, and the 'Friday Night Project' is an excellent example of the work that is being done to engage with them. We're looking forward to launching the project in Armley, and we would urge young people to make the most it."
Easter Breeze, from 1pm to 5pm, will include a media workshop, where young people can create their own DVDs and CDs, an inflatable obstacle course, arts, crafts, and dance. The first session of the Armley Friday Night Project will then take place on April 24, from 4.30pm for juniors (8-13 years), and 6.30pm for seniors (12-16 years). To find out more visit: www.breezeleeds.org.
Local authorities receive funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families to provide intensive activity-based programmes targeted at young people at risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour and crime. In total the Government is investing 222m in such programmes.
This is part of the Government's investment in places to go and positive activities announced alongside Aiming High for Young People: A Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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