HC Deb 11 February 2004 vol 417 cc1462-3W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives her Department has undertaken to encourage communities to become involved in graffiti prevention. [153823]

Estelle Morris

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works with other Government Departments and agencies, including the Home Office and Youth Justice Board, to deliver initiatives that seek to reduce antisocial behaviour, such as graffiti, by offering developmental sports and arts activities as an alternative. These include:

Positive Futures:

We are key partners in this national sports, based social inclusion programme targeted at marginalised 10 to 19-year-olds in the most deprived areas. It aims to build relationships between responsible adults and young people based on mutual trust and respect in order to create new opportunities for alternative lifestyles.

Positive Activities for Young People:

We are one of a number of Government Departments and agencies that work together to deliver Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP). PAYP is a three year cross Government and Lottery funded school holiday activity programme that aims to reduce street crime, build community cohesion and encourage children and young people to return to education or training by engaging them in high quality sport and art activities. It is targeted at young people most at risk of truancy or offending and areas with high levels of street crime or community cohesion problems.