Helping young people stay out of trouble

A project is underway in Bridgend County Borough to target anti-social behaviour and encourage children and young people to stay out of trouble.

Bridgend County Borough Council and South Wales Police have partnered with the Noddfa Kids and Community Project and Bridgend Youth Matters for the scheme, which is capable of targeting anti-social behaviour hotspots with teams of detached youth workers within 48 hours of an incident.

Engaging directly with children and young people, the youth workers are providing them with access to activities ranging from sports, fitness, photography, arts and crafts, fishing, bushcraft and outdoor adventure to music, dance, performing arts, cooking, graffiti art, hair and beauty and film making skills.

The youth workers are also offering advice and support designed to help the young people avoid patterns of anti-social behaviour, and to become active members of the local community.

By working in partnership and providing access to educational, leisure and sporting activities, we are able to foster a greater sense of community among the children and young people while keeping them active and occupied, and less likely to take part in anti-social behaviour.

The scheme is enabling specially trained youth workers to teach them useful life-skills and to provide advice and support, including on difficult issues such as sexual health and substance misuse that are important for their long-term health and well-being.

Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations