ESSEX SPORT AND YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT
Delivering ground-breaking new sport and youth crime project across Essex.
This project establishes the Foundation as the lead organisation in Essex for using sport to prevent youth crime and violence.
The Foundation delivers a first of its kind project in Essex, which brings together the criminal justice system and the community sport system to work together to use sport in a quality assured way, to prevent young people from being exploited and becoming involved in youth crime and violence. The project works with statutory agencies including the Police, Youth Offending Service, Probation along with the voluntary sector, linking them with over 65 trusted, locally based specialist community sport and activity providers.
It also has workers embedded within statutory agency teams, taking referrals and matching them with provisions that are right for them. Importantly, the project works closely with the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit to assist in their efforts to reduce serious youth violence.
The foundation links the Sport and Youth Crime Prevention project work to the 10 principles: Using sport to enhance positive outcomes for young people in the context of serious youth violence: A theory of change
Currently, over 64,000 children and young people are living in poverty throughout our county and anti-social behaviour is by far the highest rated crime across Essex, which is significantly above the country’s average.
The project will initially focus on the high youth crime and violence areas of Basildon, Chelmsford, Southend, Thurrock, Harlow, Colchester, Clacton, and Canvey Island.
The long-term plan is to ensure that the Essex criminal justice system is using sport regularly to prevent youth crime and violence, and that the Foundation network of over 100 locally trusted organisations is delivering the sport to a high quality.
2023-24 Report
Dive into the work undertaken throughout 2023-24 to understand how the project has progressed.
Thurrock Funding Opportunity
We have partnered with the London Gateway Freeport Community Investment Fund (LGFCIF), Place Partnership Expansion initiative to allow coordination with partner agencies to create opportunities for Thurrock community sports and mentor providers and local organisations under our Sports and Life Skills youth crime prevention and intervention projects.
The funding is available across an initial 12 month period (with further years possible on a sliding scale) Subject to conditions See guidance information sheet on website link along with FAQ sheet.
Our Sports and Life Skills grant funding will be open to all community sports and physical activity providers with projects in Thurrock only who can meet the key criteria and project aims and outcomes as detailed in the guidance sheet. In particular we are looking for organisations who can provide bespoke programmes for young people aged between 11- 24 years within the key categories set out in our partners agenda and offer projects in key locations such as Tilbury, Grays and West Thurrock. Other locations will be considered and scored on areas of need and/or meeting one or more of the partners outcomes.
Grant applications open from 12th June and close 29th June 2025.
Key points:
The objectives for the Thurrock Sports and Life Skills programme are comprehensive and aim to address various challenges faced by young people. Here’s a summary of the key points:
The objectives for the Thurrock Sports and Life Skills programme are comprehensive and aim to address various challenges faced by young people. We hope to provide projects within a SportsPlus model. Take a look at the StreetGames Theory of Change - StreetGames model.
- Targeted Prevention and Intervention: Support young people aged 11-24 facing personal or community challenges, particularly those in poverty or deprivation in particular areas listed within 1-3 indexes.
- Understanding Vulnerabilities: Educate young people about the risks of exploitation, county lines, gangs, and risk-taking behaviours, which can impact their education and future employment opportunities.
- Mental Health and Well-being: Promote positive mental health and help young people make safe choices.
- Risk Awareness: Increase understanding of risk-taking behaviours and equip young people with the confidence to resist peer pressure, particularly regarding knife crime, drugs, and gang activities.
- Resilience Building: Help young people cope with trauma and adverse childhood experiences without resorting to negative influences.
- Volunteering and Qualifications: Provide opportunities for volunteering and gaining sports coaching qualifications to enhance educational achievements.
- Community and Police Cohesion: Foster better communication between young people and authorities.
- Raising Aspirations: Encourage young people to aim higher in their education and future careers to prevent them becoming or remaining NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) Research highlights– “becoming and remaining NEET can result in being more likely to have a criminal record. There are a number of risk factors and characteristics that increase the likelihood of young people becoming NEET and many of these are consistent with the risk factors associated with violence” Risk factors for being a NEET Young person report OVERLA2.pdf. 2023).
- Safe Environment: Create spaces where young people feel they belong and can engage in positive activities with trusted adult support.
These goals are essential for creating a supportive and enriching environment for young people.
The essential criteria for projects and applications under the Thurrock Sports and Life Skills programme are designed to ensure that the initiatives are impactful and well-aligned with the programme's goals.
Please read the funding guidance before applying: Guidance and check out our AEF Thurrock Sports and Life Skills FAQS 2025
You will be expected to provide monitoring and evaluation on your project if successful. Find out more about the expectations here: AEF Sports and Life Skills MEL processes
Should you wish to apply, please complete both the required application form and use the Template Budget Thurrock Sports and Life Skills 2025 sheet to provide a clear break down of costs.
If you would like to discuss your application, prior to submission, please email [email protected]
to speak with Suzanne Page or Jamie Rhodes.