Summer Play Schemes

HC Deb 22 July 2002 vol 389 cc693-4W

21. Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving for summer play schemes involving sport. [689791

Tessa Jowell

We are today, jointly with the Youth Justice Board, launching a comprehensive programme of summer activities aimed at children and young people at risk of offending. The programme—Splash Extra—builds on the board's excellent Summer Splash programme.

Resourced through the New Opportunities Fund, Splash Extra is aimed at children and young people aged nine to 17 identified as at risk of offending and living in 300 estates in and around the street crime 'hotspot' areas.

It will provide a varied programme of quality sports, arts and other cultural activities, as well as personal development and education. We expect to reach at least 48,000 children and young people and possibly many more.

Splash Extra will be supported by key workers from Youth Offending Teams, the Connexions Service and the Children's Fund. As well as providing something to do over the summer for those at risk of offending, the programme will also support them back into education and training once it finishes.

Sport England is also supporting a range of activities mainly through work in Sport Action Zones including in West Cumbria, Luton, Bradford, Liverpool and East Manchester.