Inspiring Potential and Fulfilling Dreams

A youth football training programme run by Parkway Green Housing Trust, Greater Manchester Police, Manchester Health Academy and Manchester United Foundation has proved a huge success in reducing anti-social behaviour.

The scheme looks to ‘inspire potential and fulfil dreams' by using the draw of professional football clubs to target young people aged 8 to 16 years old from Wythenshawe, and takes place at The Manchester Health Academy, formally Brookway High School.

The scheme attracts around 120 participants a week and combines football coaching and competition with ‘flexible' sessions and goes far beyond football - participants learn about everything from teamwork to responsibility and drug awareness.

Since June 2009 it has contributed to a dramatic 30% reduction in anti-social and youth nuisance behaviour in the Brooklands, Baguley and Northenden neighbourhoods in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

Inspector Debbie Robson from the Northenden Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "It has contributed to notable reductions in anti-social behaviour by diverting low level perpetrators from the streets onto the programme, and by involving their parents. During the course of the initiative, we have experienced the lowest levels of anti-social behaviour across the neighbourhood since 2006."

Regeneration Officer from Parkway Green Housing Trust, David Thorncroft, who helped set up the scheme, said: "It's much more than a quick kick-about. It is a balanced, organised programme designed to teach football, teambuilding and communication skills, personal health and fitness and the dangers of drugs and alcohol."

Head Coach from the Manchester Utd Foundation, Dave Chapman, said: "The programme has produced some fantastic outcomes. They include very high attendance figures, volunteer work opportunities, drug and alcohol awareness sessions, coaching qualifications for volunteers; chances to visit Old Trafford and experience match days, as well as lots of other prizes through our incentive scheme".

Paul Barrett, Marketing & Community Manager at the Health Academy said: "We are delighted with the success of the Footy Fix programme. Working in partnership with Parkway Green, MUFC and the GMP has provided some excellent opportunities for young people in the area.

"The students and those associated with the Health Academy have already seen a significant improvement in the relationship and reputation of the Academy within the Wythenshawe community. This project, and other activities being hosted at the Community Facility, has created a venue that acts as a community hub in bringing people together. On top of that, the first class facilities on offer mean that we can cater for the entire local community, whatever their needs."

The programme has now been rolled out into other sports such as Rugby Union, which is run by the RFU, and Badminton sessions by the National Association.