Pioneering new scheme to tackle root cause of youth crime

Innovative new schemes are being funded to help deter young people from crime, with football at the heart of a pioneering approach to tackling antisocial behaviour and youth offending.

For the first time, funding has been provided to support football-related initiatives designed to engage young people who may be at risk of criminal exploitation or struggling to thrive in school.

Sport, an activity which is both productive and fun, is being used as a way to reach young people and stop them from “spiralling down the wrong path.” Rather than criminalising youths, the focus is on ensuring they “receive the help they need to succeed in life and contribute positively to society.”

Good role models are seen as essential for changing behaviours at a young age, and this principle underpins many of the initiatives now receiving funding support.

Exeter City Community Trust has launched a new programme for 11 to 18-year-olds called Change Our Path (COP). The scheme aims to tackle and reduce youth offending while offering engagement to young people who are struggling in education.

Referrals to COP come through schools, police, and youth justice services. The programme is partly funded with an initial £30,000 grant. The funding enables young people to access the facilities and resources of Exeter City FC, including opportunities to interact with players who serve as positive role models.

Although football is the central draw, the scheme also incorporates other activities such as boxing, along with mentoring, educational guidance, and life skills training. Participants also have the chance to meet players from Exeter City FC’s men’s and women’s first teams, as well as academy players, who act as mentors.

One recent session highlighted the dedication of participants, with two boys making the effort to attend despite traffic disruption caused by a fatal crash on the M5. Their determination was rewarded with a visit from Finnish international and Exeter City first-team player Ilmari Niskanen, who shared his personal journey. Niskanen admitted he left school without qualifications, showing that “you can succeed in life without them, equipped instead with drive and determination”.

Like other mentors involved, Niskanen is committed to using his experiences to inspire and support young people on the COP programme.

A similar project is also underway at Plymouth Argyle, covering both Plymouth and Torbay, which has received another £30,000 in funding support. This scheme also focuses on mentoring and activities to reduce the risk of young people becoming involved in crime.

Evidence suggests that projects like these can turn lives around, though lasting change depends on young people being willing to embrace the opportunities offered.

Looking ahead, plans are being explored to expand sports-themed programmes across the peninsula, including for adults, in an effort to “nip offending or potential criminal activity in the bud before it escalates” — while also building stronger ties between young people and their local football clubs, The Grecians and The Pilgrims.