Met-Track becomes part of London 2012 'Truce' Programme

Met-Track has been recognised by London 2012 for the work it is doing to promote peace and provide a conduit toward conflict resolution through sport.

Met-Track has already been awarded the Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme, for the work it has been doing to engage young Londoners in athletics and fitness training, delivered by international athletes, with a view to offering alternative pathways toward positive futures.
Met-Track has now also become part of London 2012’s ‘Truce’ programme, which recognises projects that help to promote the Olympic Truce by ‘building a better and more peaceful world through sport and the Olympic ideal.’

The scheme, launched in 2005, has gone from strength to strength engaging with thousands of young people in London, targeting those most likely to benefit, with upwards of 80% not offending or reoffending as a result.


Met-Track’s comprehensive programme of sports coaching, mentoring, and engagement, has won many plaudits, with case studies and testimonies underlining how the project has managed to steer so many young Londoners away from anti-social behavior and crime, making the Capital a safer place in which to live and work in the final run-up to the biggest show on earth in 2012!

Seb Coe, Chair, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: “The main principle behind the Olympic Truce today is to help to build a better and more peaceful world through sport and the Olympic ideal. We are delighted that Met-Track is not only helping us to present a safer, more cohesive Capital City to the rest of the world in 2012, but is also using sport to promote peace and address conflict resolution.

Superintendent John Powell, of TPHQ Patrol OCU who is also director of the scheme was delighted with his project’s latest accolade: “The Olympic ideals represent what Met-Track is all about. In targeting young people who might not otherwise think about taking up sport and perhaps who are facing a less than positive future, we are promoting sport, supporting peace, preventing crime, and making London that much safer.

“We are very proud of what we are delivering. Only recently, one of our coaches recognised some pupils from a school where one of our academies is based. It transpired they were en route to confront another east London gang. Not only did he turf them off the bus and send them home, he had them attend his next session, and has since begun to reform attitudes and break down the gang culture.”

Ealing borough have announced support for Met-Track into 2012 and beyond !

Ealing borough have announced support for Met-Track into 2012 and beyond with a cash injection that will see their project reach into 2012 and possibly beyond. It stands as one of the most successful schemes in London, and continues to go from strength to strength.

A steady stream of young people attend the Met-Track sessions at the Perivale track every Thursday between 4.30pm and 6pm, and several have gone on to join the local athletics club.
The borough are holding an Easter awards event where the local Police Borough Commander will attend and present certificates. Parents are also invited and a light buffet will be provided. Statistics representing the past year's work set the borough aside from the majority of their neighbours:

• 81 tee-shirts awarded;
• 55 bronze, 23 silver, and 15 gold medals and certificates presented;
• 39 hoodies given out;
• 9 track passes awarded;
• 11 pairs of spikes given;
• 40 Met-Track rain jackets given out.

The borough sent 22 participants on a recent Star-Track athletics week, and have further diversified with visits from specialists who have completed a comprehensive programme of activities for local young people. A throws event has been organised this Easter with the West London Hammer School, and some Met-Track youngsters are looking to compete in a local open track and field meeting during the holidays. The Metropolitan Police Firearms Unit are sending officers down to speak to the group, and further presentations will be arranged for later in the year.
"Ealing are a shining example of what can be achieved with a little effort and coordination," said Scheme Director, John Powell. "They are delivering a quality product, targeting the right audience, and seeing very few of their number entering the anti-social behaviour radar, let alone offending or reoffending."

Read past news stories on Ealing Borough here.

Hammersmith and Fulham became the 25th London borough to launch Met-Track on 30.31 March 2011

Around 200 local young people enjoyed a feast of sport and barrier breaking activities with police in a showcase event that was the precursor to weekly sessions at the Phoenix School starting on Tuesday 05 April

Some of Britain's finest international athletics coached track and field events, leading street dance instructors took street dance classes, and community scheme coaches from Chelsea Football Club provided football coaching.

Each day kicked off with one of the most impactive talks any of the young people will have received. This was from two serving prisoners, released on licence from Category D HMP Latchmere House, specifically to support Met-Track, as they have before. They gave a very stark reality check on what life is really like behind bars, and described in graphic detail just why young people today would concentrate on their education, and steer well clear of guns and knives.

Activities with a difference followed the lunch break where the young people were treated to experiencing life on the other side of the glass with the Met's elite Territorial Support Group. Officers demonstrated how and why they used a lot of specialist equipment, gave the young people the opportunity to dress up in personal protective gear and even set up relay races whereby the youngsters donned body armour, shields and batons after being told exactly how and why these are deployed in London.

Scheme Director and Met Superintendent John Powell said: "These activities are exceptionally popular but there is a serious message that we convey and it is very clear that young people learned a lot about how we police public order situations and most importantly, why. It also broke down a lot of barriers between them and an organisation that many of them very clearly felt represented a less than approachable image."

The sports sessions were also very popular and won many plaudits from visiting teachers and visitors from the local community.

"It is very clear that we successfully reached much of our target audience", said Scheme Manager Jason Hussain. "We aim for an audience that may not necessarily otherwise had the opportunity or even considered engaging in sport. It was very clear to me that many sets of eyes were opened in Hammersmith and we are really optimistic that this scheme can produce some very positive results in terms of reducing local youth anti-social behaviour."

Scheme Director John Powell added: "huge credit is due to Police Community Support Officer Mel McClure who single handedly organised this event and has been raising funds to support it over a period of 2 years. We were delighted the event was so successful and rewarded all her endeavours.

"We don't have other launches on the horizon at the moment and so will be looking to consolidate the scheme on the boroughs currently running it. However, our priority now has to be to raise significant funding to sustain the scheme in the long term. To date, all our applications to the Lottery, the Mayor's Fund, Comic Relief and other sources have all been rejected and if that trend continues through 2011, we may find ourselves having to reconsider our potential to contribute towards the Olympic Legacy."

London Evening Standard Reports On MET-TRACK!

Children have a bash at beating police: Met initiative helps drive down youth offending

At first sight these images appear to show a violent clash between riot police and troublesome teenagers. But this is the latest initiative to drive down anti-socal behaviour and youth offending. The teenagers from schools in Camden and Westminster were taking part in a sports training session in Regent's Park organised by the charity Met-Track. The charity runs sessions to provide coaching for young people from the ages of 11 to 17 by international athletes, including sprinters such as David Bolarinwa. While much of the training involves athletics, there are sessions that allow youngsters to beat up members of the Territorial Support Group. Set up by Met Superintendent John Powell, the scheme has helped thousands of young people in London. He said the TSG sessions were often the most popular part of the day. "The kids get an explanation of what these officers do and why and then they get the chance to dress up in their kit and act out the role themselves. It's hugely popular, it really does break down barriers between these young people and officers who are often seen as soldiers on the street. "Obviously the police officers have padded equipment and it is all very controlled. We are not teaching these kids how to go out on student protests but it puts us on a level with them. "We do have some fairly challenged kids, some come from pupil referral units and others have an offending history. It is amazing how this breaks down barriers between us." Mr Powell added: "Between 80 and 85 per cent of people who do engage with Met-Track do not offend or re-offend."

Full story can be found here on the London Evening Standards website.

Met-Track completed it's 24th launch

Met-Track completed it's 24th launch event this week with a two-day spectacular in London's Regents Park. Where single boroughs have staged their own showcase in the past, this unique scheme brings together both Westminster and Camden.

Local young Londoners were treated to a day's coaching in athletics by international athletes, received street dance sessions from top instructors, and a cricket session from representatives of the Street Chance project.

As if that were not enough, they were treated to a practical, interactive, hour's intensive training with the Metropolitan Police elite Territorial Support Group, where they were told of why and how Police deploy certain tactics in public order situations, and were then allowed to try it out for themselves.

Scheme Director and Police Superintendent, John Powell, explained: "We aim to offer this as a taster session offering sport as a healthy alternative in life to young people who may not otherwise .get the chance. And in the showcases we like to incorporate some ice-breaking exercises between young people and Police by conveying key messages in a fun environment.

These sessions are immensely popular, and hence hugely impactive, although a casual onlookers could be forgiven for a double take, as we let the young people bombard police and each other with missiles (tennis balls) and test police padded shields with batons!"

The brand new scheme rolls on now with weekly sessions at the Regents Park venue which lies roughly opposite Primrose Hill in the Northern segment of the park, near to the zoo. They will take place every Monday throughout the year now from 4.15-6.15pm. Any young person aged 10-17 can take part and it is completely free of charge.

Those at the second day of the launch event (Tuesday 22nd) had a special treat with European and Commonwealth Sprint hurdles champion Andy Turner popping in to display his medals and talk to the young People, along with David Bolarinwa, who was the fastest under-18 in the world last year. Also visiting was Deputy Lord Mayor of London, Councillor Jan Prendergast.

Photos of the launch event will appear on this website over the course of the next few days. Copies can be requested via the Met-Track team.

Met-Track launched it's 24th scheme today (Monday 20th March) in the iconic venue that is London's Regents Park.

Met-Track launched it's 24th scheme today (Monday 20th March) in the iconic venue that is London's Regents Park.
Over 120 young people benefited from top class coaching by British International athletes in sprints and long jump, while coaches from the Street Chance cricket project, and instructors from one of the Capital's leading dance schools offered alternative activities.
As if this was not enough, the prestigious Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group arrived in the form of 2-area team 2 who have supported former projects. They gave young people from the boroughs of Camden and Westminster an opportunity to don public order kit .and equipment and fire missiles at uniformed Police officers!

"It sounds outrageous," said Scheme Director John Powell, "but it is a fantastic chance for young people to see exactly ow it's done - and why it's done. And it's terrific fun too!"
The scheme rolls out again tomorrow (21st) and then begins it's weekly sessions, which are open to anyone, every Monday, starting at 4pm on 28th March.

"We want any young people to come down and find out just what sport has to offer - and we aren't looking for stars, just people who want to take part and have fun," said John.

Met-Track continues its expansion across the Capital

Met-Track continues its expansion across the Capital on Monday and Tuesday 21-22nd March, with a unique launch event in Regents Park.
The Royal Parks Police have joined up with lead agency the British Athletic Charitable Trust over recent months, to formulate a scheme that will see Westminster and Camden Boroughs working hand-in-glove with the Royal Parks Command.
Young people from schools in both boroughs will take part in a showcase event that will attract over 200 participants, who would probably never otherwise have had the opportunity to train under the tutelage of international athletes in sprints and long jump. Other activities will include the ever-popular street dance classes, along with instruction in cricket.
The objective across both days will be to encourage the young people taking part - along with any of their friends and family - to come back the following Monday (28th) for the first of what will be weekly training opportunities with top international athletes working in a coaching role. The sessions will be free, last for two hours, and begin at 4pm every Monday throughout the summer.
Met-Track have traditionally partnered Kickz to provide football at their launch events, but for the first time in their six-year history, they entertain cricket in Regents park, linking in with the successful Street Chance project which promotes the sport as another diversion opportunity for young Londoners.
Scheme Director, John Powell, said: "We are delighted to offer another launch event in one of London's most iconic locations, Regents Park. In adopting cricket for this event it further shows how diverse the Met-Track model can be - anything, in fact, that can offer young people in our Capital City the chance to make some positive decisions in life and steer themselves away from negative influence."
The launch event will take pace at the athletics track located next to Regents Park zoo, and will begin at 9.15am on both days. Track and Field megastar, Andy Turner will visit the event on Tuesday 22nd. The European and Commonwealth Games sprint hurdles gold medallist will chat to the young people taking part and look to use his story to inspire others to take up sport as a healthy life alternative.
If successful, and if further funding can be found to sustain the project, the weekly sessions will continue through Autumn and winter on Saturday mornings.