Crime-busting youth scheme will continue

Photo: Picture ANTHONY MILLER

FLASHBACK to summer . . . youngsters get to grips with lacrosse at Failsworth Sports Centre as part of this year’s Passport to Summer programme.

Anti-social behaviour drops 27 per cent

A PIONEERING summer youth programme which helped to cut crime by 27 per cent will run for the rest of the year.

Passport to Summer offered youngsters the chance to take part in a host of activities during the school holidays from May to September.

The scheme, run by the council and partners, including the police and Oldham Community Leisure, featured 1,200 events and resulted in a 27 per cent drop in anti-social behaviour.
New campaign Go Oldham will continue the good work and keep youngsters occupied throughout 2010.

The programme launches with Fast Forward for half-term which starts on February 13. Passport to Summer will run from May to September followed by Wrapped Up in the October half-term.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for community services, said: “Oldham Council and its partners are firmly committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and we’re delighted to have secured agreement to extend this campaign throughout 2010.

“It’s great news for youngsters — and it’s great news for residents. Passport to Summer’ was a new co-ordinated approach to our youth provision and the results spoke for themselves.

“We saw reductions in anti-social behaviour across each neighbourhood, significant falls in many areas, and in three wards — Medlock Vale, Waterhead and Chadderton — the problem halved.

“Although we are far from complacent, this is an excellent example of what proactive working with our partners can achieve. We thank all involved for their assistance with this project and we are already excited by the range of activities building up for the February half-term and beyond.

“What last year’s campaign proved is that the borough’s youngsters are not inherently disruptive.

“If you get out there, promote and offer them new and exciting things to do — whether that is climbing, crafts, dancing or drumming — they will happily give it a go.

“We’ve already seen big progress in boosting the number of activities and in getting youngsters more involved in their community. That can only be a positive thing for everyone.”

Details of activities taking place can be found online at www.gooldham.com and there will also be dedicated groups on Facebook and Twitter.