KOPS ’N’ KIDS SCHEME HAILED A HOLIDAY HIT
RUNCORN MP Mike Amesbury was impressed after seeing young people enjoying free summer activities run by local police.
KOPS ‘n’ Kids is a five-week holiday scheme for 8-16 year olds hosted by Halton’s leisure centres and Sandymoor Ormiston Academy.
Organised by Runcorn Police Station, KOPS stands for Keep on Playing Sport, with the programme well received following three lockdowns.
It’s all about promoting health and fitness while building relationships with young people and their families.
Mr Amesbury, whose 11-year-old son Ted took part in a game of football during his visit to Brookvale Recreation Centre, said: “Giving young people the opportunity to take part in sport and socialise with their peers in a safe environment is so important following the constraints of lockdown.
“Well done to community engagement officer PC Ian Hampson, the other police officers, PCSOs and volunteers involved.”
The Weaver Vale MP added: “Ian explained a similar programme in 2019 produced spin-offs in terms of reducing anti-social behaviour by channelling all that youthful energy in a positive direction and breaking down barriers between young people and police.”
KOPS ‘n’ Kids provides something for everyone from football, to badminton, table tennis, basketball, hockey, netball, swimming, circus tricks, Boxercise, dance and even meditation. Every child receives a grab bag of food.
Organiser PC Hampson reckons more than 1,000 children and young people will have benefited by the time the scheme ends.
Explaining the history of the programme, he said: “The idea came from when I was a young lad in Runcorn in the ‘80s. During
the summer months we had a thing called Cops ‘n’ Kids and I always remember playing football with the local bobby, who was PC White at the time.
“If we ever got into trouble or needed any advice, he was there. So it was an engagement tool really. I joined the police and worked in most police stations in Cheshire then I came back to Runcorn as a beat manager in 2019.
“Every time we went out to any ASB or youth problems, people said ‘there’s nothing for the kids to do’. So we came up with the idea of KOPS ‘n’ Kids harking back to the thing from the ‘80s. It’s been really well received.”
KOPS ‘n’ Kids is supported by sponsors including by Onward Homes, the Steve Morgan Foundation plus Halton Speaks Out and its Bright Sparks project. Any organisations or businesses interested in sponsoring future activities to make the programme sustainable is invited to contact PC Hampson: ian.hampson@cheshire. pnn.police.uk