9 July 2013 Positive Futures kick trouble into touch Positive Futures, a youth crime prevention programme, has received £85,000 from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Safety Fund to enable them to continue their work with young people in the county. Suffolk Positive Futures is a youth crime prevention programme managed by young people’s charity Catch22. The programme targets and supports vulnerable and at-risk 10-19 year olds to avoid them becoming drawn into crime, drug and alcohol misuse and helps them in moving forward with their lives. Positive Futures projects use sport, physical activities, arts and education to engage young people. Young people develop the skills and confidence to reach their goals and achieve through education, employment and training opportunities. The project provides a compelling alternative to crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB)and addresses the root causes of serious youth crime. It directly contributes to a number of key priorities in relation to making Suffolk a safer area for all. The project works collaboratively with the Police, Youth Offending Service, schools, housing associations and local authorities. Positive Futures currently have activities running in Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Haverhill, Saxmundham, Kessingland as well as numerous sessions in both Ipswich and Lowestoft. At present approximately 450 young people are regularly engaging with Positive Futures in Suffolk in 40 hours of organised activities each week including football, boxing, gym sessions, cricket, dodge ball and fitness. For further information on the project please contact project manager Paul Knight on 07717 290545 or paul.knight@catch-22.org.uk