§ Mr. Hancock:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if she will contribute to the partnership of the Prince's Trust Football Initiative, FA Premier League, Football Foundation and Professional Footballers Association in helping disadvantaged young people; and if she will make a statement;[143447]
(2) what assessments she has made of the contribution made by the Prince's Trust Football Initiative to tackling social exclusion of young people.[143444]
§ Mr. Caborn:The Government fully support the aims of the Prince's Trust Football Scheme, which uses sport to offer personal development programmes to young people aged 16-25, the majority of whom are unemployed, have recently left social service care, or are ex-offenders. It is noteworthy that of 4,000 participants between 1997 and 2002, some 73 per cent. went on to find employment, or to further education or training.
The Scheme receives £250,000 a year from the Football Foundation's Community and Education Fund, which is part-funded by Sport England and the New Opportunities Fund.