Positive Futures

Inspiring adults: the way forward for Positive Futures and Britain’s teenagers

Download the report here

Young people, in some of the country’s most deprived neighbourhoods, are taking steps towards a positive future, according to new research

Positive Futures, a national sports, arts and activity-based social inclusion programme (funded centrally by the Home Office Crime and Drug Strategy Directorate) has 119 projects from Penzance to Northumberland.  Every project provides activity opportunities of all kinds for young people between the ages of 10 and 19, giving them the chance to develop both personally and socially.

The Knowing the Score report, the culmination of two years of independent research led by Professor Tim Crabbe of Sheffield Hallam University (to be launched at Sheffield United Football Club) shows a clear way forward for the future.

Gary Stannett, Director of Positive Futures, said: “We are delighted with this report. Positive Futures is changing the lives of young people across the country and it’s great to see the report confirm our belief that a key reason for its success is the ability of each project to employ and train staff with the skills to inspire young people.”

According to the report the recipe for Positive Futures’ success in re-engaging young people and re-energising local communities is to:

•Run projects through small flexible locally engaged voluntary organisations

•Employ and train staff with local credibility and the skills to inspire young people

•Provide access to a range of structured activities

•Build progression pathways and links to volunteering

•Evaluate on the basis of the pathways young people have followed

Vernon Coaker, Home Office Drugs Minister welcomes this report.  “It is a valuable contribution to our understanding of how best to support young people and provide positive alternatives to drugs, crime and anti-social behaviour.”  

According to the report’s author, Tim Crabbe: “Positive Futures shows a way forward to Government, communities and young people.  By offering young people the chance to develop strong and trusting relationships with project staff, we can give them a way back into their communities and opportunities to develop their full potential”.

Louise Casey, Government Coordinator for Respect fully endorses the approaches advocated. “Rather than highlight the problems with young people this report tells us something about how to connect with, inspire and develop them. We fully support front line staff that have the skills to do this as well as the courage to challenge unacceptable behaviour whenever it occurs. Support and challenge of young people will undoubtedly make our communities safer and more respectful places to live and work.

Editor’s Notes

For more information or for photographs please call the Positive Futures press office: Jill Parsons on 01793 863537 or 07778848518 or Jane Edmonds on 01793 863520 or 07795 428338

For more details about a media pass for the conference at Sheffield United, please call either Jill or Jane on the numbers above.

Positive Futures is a national sports, arts and activity-based social inclusion programme. Funded centrally by the Home Office Crime and Drug Strategy Directorate.

The Respect Task Force is responsible for coordinating and delivering the national Respect Action Plan, which builds on the successful drive to tackle anti social behaviour by seeking to address the underlying causes of unacceptable behaviour.

The national crime prevention organisation Crime Concern took over management of Positive Futures, from the Home Office, in April 2006.

The programme has a national advisory group made up of representatives from the Home Office, Department for Education and Skills, Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Department of Health, Sport England, Youth Justice Board (YJB), Metropolitan Police, Commission for Rural Communities and the Football Foundation.

The programme has 119 projects from Penzance to Northumberland and works in some of the country’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

Every project provides activity opportunities of all kinds for young people between the ages of 10 and 19, giving them the chance to develop both personally and socially.

Each project adapts its programme of activities in line with the needs of its young people – with a focus on engaging those young people who are marginalised within the community.

The six projects that took part in the study are: Sefton and North Liverpool in the North West, Keighley, Calderdale and Leeds in Yorkshire, and Wandsworth and Southwark in London

The Knowing the Score report can be found on the Substance website along with the three impact reports Getting to Know You, In the Boot Room and Going the Distance at www.substance.coop