Over
15,000 young people took part in Summer Splash in 2002, a programme
designed to offer young people in deprived areas a way out of crime
by getting them involved in ® positive recreational activities
during the school holidays.
Total crime in the areas that ran Summer Splash fell by 7.4 per cent
from June to August 2002, compared to a 2.9 per cent increase in 2001
during the same period.
The Splash 2002_ report, published today by the Youth Justice Board,
shows that in its third year Splash continued to make progress in
keeping high risk young people out of trouble and involved in constructive
activities. These projects were part of a wider programme of summer
activities provided through various Government departments in Summer
2002.
The expansion of Splash last year, to include both the February and
Whitsun half term holidays, has been shown to be beneficial. Increased
continuity throughout the year enabled schemes to offer more support
and advice to young people, including help with alcohol and drug abuse
and anger management.
The average cost of providing a young person with an hour of activity
was just £1.63, and nearly I million young-person hours were
delivered throughout the year.
The success of Splash and Splash Extra, together with programmes such
as Connexions Summer Plus, has led to a new cross-Government initiative
to provide year round holiday activities for 8 to 19-year-olds at
risk of social exclusion and crime. The Youth Justice Board is joining
forces with the Department for Education and Skills and the New Opportunities
Fund, alongside the Home Office and Department for Culture Media and
Sport to combine existing schemes and provide greater help and support
to vulnerable young people.
Lord Warner, chairman of the Youth Justice Board, said: "It is
encouraging to see that Splash continued to provide an effective alternative
to anti-social and criminal behaviour for so many young people in
2002. Alongside other programmes it had a high impact in cutting street
crime last summer. I hope that the new funding arrangements will enable
existing Splash schemes to build on the successes of the past three
years, and use their experience to provide activities for an even
greater number of vulnerable young people at risk of social exclusion
and criminality."
