AN initiative to help young people stay out of trouble is being launched in Hartlepool tomorrow.
The town's first Youth Inclusion Programme (YIP) will centre on the Dyke House area, and aim to prevent young people from offending for the first time, re-offending or behaving in an anti- social manner.
YIP, which is one of the Youth Justice Board's main youth crime prevention programmes, ensures that the young people most at risk within a target area are offered support to help them overcome a variety of social problems.
Examples of the services and activities available are parenting support, sexual health work, crime diversion work, mentoring, woodcraft and team sports.
Jacquie Gofton, Hartlepool Youth Offending Service's prevention manager, said: "This programme will take a multi-agency approach, with the aim of reducing the number of first-time entrants into the youth justice system by five per cent by March 2008.
"I am delighted that this new programme is being launched in Hartlepool with support from local residents, Hartlepool Youth Offending Service, Connexions and the Safer Hartlepool Partnership."
The programme will also be launched in the Owton Manor area of the town early next year.
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