Youth activities and sport

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Nacro runs youth activities projects, including football and other sports projects, in over 50 of the most socially and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in England. These projects aim to engage and inspire young people so they are less likely to drift into antisocial behaviour and crime. They offer vulnerable young people and volunteers the opportunity to participate in constructive and enjoyable activities in their local area.





Nacro offers:

• Experience of engaging challenging young people and using football and other activities as a catalyst to help them change their lives – working with over 8,000 young people in the last year
• A tradition of building strong partnerships into the heart of our projects
• A record of recruiting volunteers from across communities to help run and direct the projects – over 500 volunteers worked with us in the last year
• The capacity to work with communities to build local resources
• Success in attracting additional funding to projects
• A national team to support local projects, by sharing best practice, training and helping their development

Youth activity projects consult with the local community to identify needs, concerns and aspirations, and develop a range of arts- and sports-based activities to increase young people’s self-confidence, channel their energies in a constructive direction, and promote community cohesion, safety and empowerment.

The projects emphasise participation, personal and social development and fun as a way to engage young people and they work to promote a healthy and responsible lifestyle and to improve individual and community relationships.

Nacro’s youth activity projects are funded through – and deliver – a variety of programmes, such as the Department of Health’s Opportunities for Volunteering Scheme, the Home Office Positive Futures programme and Football Foundation schemes. They work in partnership with many local agencies and organisations, including youth offending teams, community crime and disorder reduction partnerships, drug and alcohol action teams, local police, community regeneration teams, county football associations and local community groups.

Volunteers are central to the success of our youth activities projects. They act as sports coaches, mentors, organisers and much more. Volunteers benefit from their involvement in a number of ways, such as accredited training, the development of skills, increased self-confidence, and the opportunity to make a real and positive contribution to their own neighbourhoods. Click here to find out more about volunteering with Nacro.

To find out more, contact youthactivities@nacro.org.uk  or download Young and Included

For a full list of Nacro’s projects, including our youth activity projects, go to our directory.
 

Alive and kicking – Nacro’s football projects

Football is the most popular sport among young men and women and provides an attractive ‘hook’ for the engagement of vulnerable and excluded young people.

Nacro currently has football projects in 17 areas of England, which are funded through the Football Foundation – England’s largest sports charity. Projects have attracted additional support from schemes such as the Barclays Spaces 4 Sports programme, and from local football clubs and employers.

Adult volunteers from the local community are recruited, trained and supported to set-up football clubs to run weekly training sessions for young people. They also have the opportunity to participate in accredited training programmes, such as the Community Sports Leaders Award.

To find out more, download a copy of our leaflet about the football projects, Alive and Kicking

If you are interested in how a Nacro football project might help your area, contact football@nacro.org.uk

For a full list of Nacro’s projects, including our football projects, go to our directory.

Other Nacro Services:

	Resettling ex-offenders and prisoners		Mental health
	Education and employment		Youth crime
	Housing		Youth activities and sport
	Race and the criminal justice system