Police Authority Funding ensures Extension Of Oswestry’s Police-Run Football Scheme
A police-run soccer scheme for youngsters from the Oswestry area is proving so successful, further funding has been provided to ensure it continues throughout the winter.
An initial grant of £500 was given by West Mercia Police Authority from its community initiatives fund to run the scheme on Thursdays from mid October. The weekly hour-long sessions will now continue throughout the rest of the winter thanks to a further £500 being approved from the police authority fund.
Attracting boys and girls aged from 12 to 18, the sessions proved so successful, organisers were anxious they should be extended. They are staged and supervised by Local Policing Officers each Thursday from 4pm at the new leisure centre in Shrewsbury Road. Police engaging young people in constructive and enjoyable pursuits, including various sports, has significantly cut anti-social behaviour in many parts of Shropshire.
Community Support Officer Andrew Neeves, one of the organisers of the Oswestry soccer sessions, said: "Since they started in October, we have been attracting record numbers of youngsters, averaging 26 compared with around 17 last year. So many children are turning up we have had to break down the sessions into small seven-a-side matches. We are delighted with the response and have had very positive feedback from parents and children who either take part or come to watch."
He added that the scheme had been run by the police over the past four years and proved successful in building bridges with local youngsters as well as reducing anti-social behaviour in the area.
