Full-on tackle

Hearts FC has teamed up with the Council to help young people keep out of trouble

Pilot project

A unique pilot scheme that uses football to tackle antisocial behaviour among young offenders has been hailed a success.

Five young men aged 16 and 17 took part in the first On The Ball programme, which was run by the Youth Offending Service from the Council and Hearts Football Club, earlier this year.

It is aimed at youths who are on probation but have been assessed as at a medium to high risk of reoffending.

Those taking part spent the majority of their time examining actions such as past behaviour and consequences to help them make positive choices about their futures.

Feedback from those involved in the scheme, which ran for ten weeks until March, was so positive that the Youth Offending Service has secured funding for three more rounds over the next year from the Community Justice Authority.

Funding for the On The Ball pilot scheme came from the Council’s community partnership.

Kate Macmillan, a senior social worker for the Youth Offending Service, said: “These young people really enjoyed this opportunity and some have even volunteered to help out with future programmes.”

Alan White, community liaison officer for Hearts, coached the young men who took part. He said: “Football is a fantastic motivator and hopefully the boys who took part learned new skills.

“There is no doubt that this programme delivered really important life messages and hopefully provided them with potential opportunities.

“Kate and the team did a great job of putting it together.”