Met-Track have again teamed up as the lead partner with 'U-Turn1', a Bexley partnership of youth engagement agencies and education leads, delivering a unique but challenging scheme aimed at preventing and reducing knife crime on the borough.It is based on the Juvenile Impact Programme witnessed by Met-Track Scheme Director and Scheme Manager John Powell and Jason Hussain, darting a visit to Los Angeles Police Department 2 years ago where they were so impressed with the results that they offered it to the South East London project as best practice.
U-Turn1 represents a challenging and rigorous course for young people already identified as having been involved in knife crime. It is intended to make those taking part more aware of themselves and the impact they can have on themselves, their family, friends, and the people around them.
It is formatted into two distinct parts. There is multi-agency input from a variety of sources including role models, various branches of law enforcement and prevention agencies, and diverse forums conducted by external organisations, education practitioners and youth leaders. The other half of the project is delivered by Met-Track sports coaches and staff from the local Charlton Athletic Community Trust, introducing sport as the healthier alternative for life in accordance with Met-Track's mission statement.
The coaches working with 16 young people over an initial week, followed by 12 follow-up days, have already noticed significant improvement in attitudes and engagement, and even simply after the initial week, some impressive changes had already taken place in the individuals taking part.
"The value of a scheme like this cannot be underestimated," said Scheme Director John Powell. "It simply proves just how much of an impact sport can have on a young life. It inspires confidence, promotes fun, and leads to positive thinking. I can only appeal to all local authorities in Met-Track boroughs to recognise this and promote engagement in the scheme - the benefits to the public purse, let alone the safety of Londoners, is simply quite phenomenal."
