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£12 Million Cash Splash to Turn Youngsters Away From Crime

Tessa Jowell announces major funding for Splash summer schemes for youngsters from deprived estates.

An innovative project offering artistic and sporting activities to teenagers most at risk of committing crime has been given a cash boost of up to £12 million, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell announced today.

The Summer Splash scheme, run by the Youth Justice Board, will receive the cash from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund.  It will enable it to expand almost five-fold this year, from 65 projects for 13 to17 year olds to 300. A further 300 will be set up on the same estates for 9 to 12 year olds. This will increase more than seven-fold the numbers able to take part in summer activities in the street crime areas, from  6,500 to around 48,000.

All the projects, called Splash Extra, will be based on high crime estates in England as part of the Government's strategy for tackling street crime.  They will give youngsters constructive activities to keep them out of trouble over the holidays. Activities might include team sports, including football, abseiling, tennis, video making, drama, music workshops, photography, art classes, journalism, web design and DJ classes.

Tessa Jowell said:

 "The Splash scheme works. On the estates that ran Splash schemes during summer 2000, there was a 36 per cent reduction in domestic burglary and an 18 per cent reduction in 'youth crime' in the area.  This compares with a reduction of just six per cent and eight per cent respectively in similar high crime areas. These schemes don't cost the Earth either.  Each activity costs an average of just £2.87 an hour for each young person. That is amazing value for money when you consider the social and emotional cost of crime.

"Engaging youngsters in sport or the arts can give them the tools they need to make a success of their lives and keep them away from crime. The arts and sport can encourage young people to make choices, decisions and personal statements, to have enthusiasm, to take risks and take responsibility. "


Football will play an important part in the Splash schemes.  Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said:

"Building on excellent programmes and, of course, the Football Foundation's commitment to Positive Futures, the Premier League are now locked into discussions with the Youth Justice Board about how football clubs can help those young people most at risk of offending. Already plans are in place to devise a wide range of summer activities for youngsters through linking up the Summer Splash and Positive Futures initiatives with football based community activities."

Notes to Editors

1. Splash has been running since summer 2000. For further details contact the Youth Justice Board on 020 7271 3076/3014.

2. The New Opportunities Fund distributes National Lottery money to health, education and environment projects across the UK with a particular focus on disadvantage and improving quality of life. To date the New Opportunities Fund has committed over £1.3 billion in National Lottery funding to health, education and environment schemes across the UK. The Fund supports sustainable projects that will:

  • Improve the quality of life of people throughout the UK
  • Address the needs of those who are most disadvantaged in society
  • Encourage community participation
  • Complement relevant local and national strategies and programmes.

Funding for programmes is divided between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland  and Wales on the basis of population weighted to reflect levels of deprivation. 
Further information about New Opportunities Fund can be accessed at http://www.nof.org.uk/ Press Office 020 7211 1888 email pressoffice@nof.org.uk Out of hours media line 07867 500572.

3. In August 2001 the NOF launched its £38.75 million Activities for Young People programme in England.  Today's announcement complements this. Northern Ireland's £2.25 million pound scheme was launched in April 2002. The scheme in Wales is due to launch later this year.  This programme has allocated grants to a variety of summer activity partnerships across England with the aim of opening up opportunities to school leavers with no firm plans for education or work. Partners in each of the 47 Connexions areas in England have been awarded funding for summer activities over the next three years. The funding will support a range of summer activities including outdoor adventure, arts, media, vocational training and volunteering; as well as providing careers guidance and help with CV writing and interview skills. Projects will involve a combination of local-based daytime activity and residential courses. 

Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6052/6277
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200

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