On the Ground: North East Lincs Summer Camp

Funding £15,000 mix of central government, local authority and community funding
Aim Engage young people in positive activities

A project in Lincolnshire has helped reduce antisocial behaviour by offering young people the chance to go on a week-long summer camp.

More than 300 young people took part in the initiative, the brainchild of community volunteer Steve Hill and local councillor Les Bonner.

The holidays were offered to young people who deserved a break, either because of personal circumstances, or as a reward for making a positive contribution to the neighbourhood.

A combination of paid staff and community volunteers put on the three week-long camps, which meant the cost of each young person's place was less than £50. Volunteers included police officers, neighbourhood wardens and youth workers.

There were a wide range of activities available, such as a large assault course, which was built by some of the volunteers, go-karting, fishing, football, rounders, archery, clay pigeon shooting and quad biking. The young people also took part in discussion sessions about issues relating to their local community.

Hill says young people in North East Lincolnshire often find themselves with nothing to do during the summer holiday period.

"Our aim was to give deserving youngsters from the area a week's camping holiday where they are given the opportunity to try out activities, as a reward for good behaviour throughout the year, and to reduce the amount of antisocial behaviour in the area," he explains.

Bonner adds: "For many of the youths this was the first summer holiday they had ever had. There was a drop in antisocial behaviour due to the fact that some young people were taken out of the area, but they also made new friends and formed links to the local youth centre, which many continued to attend afterwards."