Wirral's independent local news website
Free football sessions are being run in several areas across Wirral thanks to some grant funding from The Youth Justice Sport Fund.
Every Friday until 31 March 2023 football sessions will be held at the following locations:
These sessions are open for anyone aged 11-17 and are run by qualified and experienced Sport Development Coaches. No booking is required, simply turn up and join in for free.
Helen Cameron, Chair of Wirral Council’s Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee, said, “I’m really pleased we’ve managed to secure some funding here in Wirral to bring back free Friday night football across three sites.
“We have seen in the past that this kind of diversionary activity is effective in reducing anti-social behaviour and helps keep vulnerable children from being criminally exploited.
“My thanks go out to all the staff who made this bid a success and those involved in running these sessions who are using sport to enhance positive outcomes for children and young people in Wirral.”
The Youth Justice Sport Fund, which is being managed by the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice and StreetGames and co-ordinated by the Sport for Development Coalition, will deliver an investment of up to £5million nationally into a mixture of organisations with a proven record of using sport effectively to reduce crime, between now and 31 March 2023. The fund is part of a £60million investment into early intervention made earlier this year by the Ministry of Justice.
Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour is one of the key areas that the Youth Justice Sport Fund is aimed at, as well as improving physical and mental wellbeing, to increasing employability and educational attainment.
Wirral Council is working in close partnership with a number of trusted local organisations to deliver these sessions.
Image: Wirral Council
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