Drive to reduce youth crime hailed a success
Street Stuff programme benefits 43,000 youngsters
06.06.2017 A phenomenal 43,000 young folk benefited from an initiative aimed at reducing youth crime in Renfrewshire in just a single year.
The Street Stuff programme attracted 5,000 more participants in 2016/ 17 than the previous year, with organisers revealing that it is responsible for a 75 per cent reduction in youth disorder and anti-social behaviour.
A report set to go before Renfrewshire Council today demonstrates the growing success of the project since it was set up in 2009.
It explains: “Across Renfrewshire a 75 per cent reduction in youth disorder and anti-social behaviour was achieved in the first five years of the programme and a further 42 per cent increase in participation levels has been seen over the past three years.”
The annual report will be put before the council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, where councillors are expected to welcome the results.
It shows a continuing expansion of the range of activities supported over the past eight years, now offering football, dance, cheerleading, clubbercise, gaming, DJ workshops and filming among other things.
Street Stuff uses police data to target its resources.
The report goes on: “The success of the programme relies on its ability to respond quickly to hotspot areas identified through collaborative working supported by Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership.
“Being evidence-led, and by responding early through the daily tasking process, the service is able to divert young people effectively from anti social behaviour into more meaningful activities.”
And it points out that the results can be life changing for young participants, adding: “The success of the programme in delivering life changing outcomes for residents is demonstrated by the fact that previous participants in the programme have gone onto become volunteers in the programme.
“Some participants in the programme have used their experiences to support entry into further and higher education as well as careers in Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue service and as teachers.”
The board is scheduled to meet in Renfrewshire House at 1pm today.