§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the existing positive futures projects; [68780]
402W(2) if he will make a statement on the 33 new positive futures schemes referred to on page 170 of the 2002 Departmental report. [68779]
§ Mr. Bob Ainsworth[holding answer 11 July 2002]The existing Positive Futures projects have recently been subjected to independent evaluation which found that they are achieving their aims of increasing sports participation and reducing youth crime and drugs misuse. It found
a reduction in recorded come (of up to as much as 77 per cent.) in every area with a Positive Futures project;Positive changes in behaviour and lifestyle for many of these youngsters who were deemed to be 'at risk', for example returning to the education system;An increase in sports participation with many youngsters joining sports clubs, gaining coaching and leadership qualifications.New projects were awarded to 33 agencies that demonstrated how sports projects would complement the work of local youth offending and drug action teams. The majority of projects that started in April 2002 have now appointed staff and are working with statutory services to identify the 50 young people most 'at risk' of offending to ensure their involvement in the sports programmes.