THE Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, visited the Newport International Sports Village yesterday to see how young people at risk of substance misuse and anti-social behaviour are having their lives changed through sport.
The Positive Futures programme, which is funded by Gwent Police and Sport Wales, and led locally by Newport Council, offers positive alternatives by engaging young people in sporting activities.
The scheme has been running since 2002 and any young person, aged between 10 and 19, can use the service. It has started to expand across Gwent into Caerphilly, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, and Monmouthshire.
Yesterday, the deputy minister met young people involved in Aspire, which is an alternative education group linked to Llanwern High School - who were taking part in a structured basketball session on the day.
He said: “We want young people to stay engaged in education and to keep young people in schools and colleges.
“I do not believe that there is one young person out there who does not put their heart and soul into being an adult and it’s our job as politicians to give young people the opportunity to excel.
“Positive Futures is a phenomenal scheme in using sport as a hook for a safe environment. Schemes such as these are so important for engaging youngsters. They are small interventions in cost, but they have huge savings for society."
He also said the initiative had a significant impact on a number of youngsters in the area already.
“There are some really inspiring young people here today, who have had their lives around and we want to see more of these schemes across Wales," he added.
“We can use this scheme as a beacon for activity to encourage local authorities and it’s really important for Newport."
The Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Paul Harris, and the leader of Newport City Council, councillor Bob Bright, were also in attendance on the day.
For more information on the Positive Futures programme, visit http://www.newport.gov.uk/activeNewport/index.cfm/positiveFutures.
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