A new initiative to keep young people on the right path and divert them away from antisocial behaviour has launched in Hucknall and nearby Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

Ashfield District Council, Nottinghamshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire are working in partnership with 'Switch Up' to deliver crime prevention programmes to young people in the two towns. 

These programmes specifically target the underlying causes of crime and antisocial behaviour.

The interventions being delivered are supporting young people in Hucknall and Kirkby, and will consist of physical, educational and support sessions which cover various topics such as drugs and alcohol, mental health, and employability.

Switch Up is a bespoke service that caters for young people who are either involved in, or at risk of being involved in criminality and anti-social behaviour, as well as working with young people who are not in education, employment, or training.

Although the project is aimed at working with young people in the Hucknall and Kirkby areas, referrals will be considered from all Ashfield residents. These can be made by contacting [email protected].

The youth diversionary scheme is part of a raft of measures being delivered to improve feelings of safety across the district. The scheme has been funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Home Office Safer Streets fund which was secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner last year, in partnership with Ashfield District Council and the Community Safety Partnership.

Antonio Taylor, Community Safety Manager for Ashfield District Council, said: "Early intervention and prevention are key aspects to managing crime and antisocial behaviour. As a Community Safety Partnership, we recognise that there may be underlying causes for why young people may be involved in antisocial behaviour; and we are committed to working with young people to educate them on the dangers of getting involved in crime and provide them with pathways to better opportunities''.

Marcellus Baz BEM, CEO and founder of Switch Up, said: "Only through partnerships such as these will we be able to increase the number of young people we support and make a real impact on the levels of antisocial behaviour and crime in areas such as Kirkby.

"We're looking forward to working with Ashfield District Council to make a difference to the community, helping children and young people to access opportunities and support to achieve their true potential by giving them the tools to develop and put themselves in the best possible position to succeed."

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: "Switch Up are really experienced in helping steer young people into positive activities, through sport, mentoring and education. We have already seen some great results in the work they have done in Nottingham and Mansfield so it is exciting to see this now being expanded to Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Hucknall.

"Giving young people access to activities such as this can be transformative as it opens doors that may not have been open to them due to personal circumstances. It gives them the chance to work with positive role models and engage in fun and educational activities that give them lessons for life – and mean they are much less likely to be on the streets engaging in crime and antisocial behaviour."