Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) is a cross-departmental programme run by the department for Education and Skills and financed from an innovative "single pot" of funding to which the Big Lottery Fund, DfES and the Home Office have all contributed. Launched in 2003 the programme builds on the success of initiatives such as Splash and Splash Extra.
The programme is aimed at those young people (between the ages of 8 and 19) who are most at risk of committing a crime or becoming socially excluded. The emphasis is very much on providing quality developmental sports, arts and cultural activities that are not only appealing but are focussed on each young person's individual needs, equipping them with new skills and improving their self esteem. Key worker support - through the Connexions Service - helps those most at risk.
Lottery funding of the programme will end in March 2006. However, funding to support its objectives is being made available by DfES from April to those local authorities that have Local Area Agreements in place. Where LAAa are not in place, PAYP will continue to be delivered through the nine regional Government Offices. When LAAs have been fully rolled-out it will be up to individual LAAs to decide whether they wish to run PAYP-type activities in their areas.
For further information visit the Connexions website.
