Saints Switching Play receive double funding boost
Premier League Charitable Fund has joined forces with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, to provide a funding boost to Saints Foundation’s project to reduce youth offending.
Switching Play aims to reduce youth offending within Southampton. The project engages with young people who are referred through the Youth Justice Service and provides them with 1:1 mentoring delivered alongside a sporting activity, with a focus on helping them to achieve their goals.
Funding from the Premier League Kicks Police Partnerships Pilot and from the Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, is allowing Switching Play to continue their work in reducing reoffending, improve mental wellbeing, improve aspirations, sustained engagement, and completion of individual goals.
Jed Haney, Saints Foundation Pathway Project Manager, said: “Saints Switching Play contributes massively to the city of Southampton by reducing youth reoffending and improving the aspirations of our young people. This funding boosts our ability to continue this work and better support Southampton.”
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, said: “It is vital that young people are given positive outlets that inspire and support healthy choices. I am pleased to be supporting the Saints Switching Play project in Southampton. By working together young people can transform their lives through interventions that engage and support them. This is the cornerstone of tackling serious youth violence and reoffending.
"Earlier this year, I presented the Saints Switching Play team with the Youth Engagement Award at my annual awards ceremony. It is an accolade rightly deserved for the charity’s hard work and dedication towards tackling youth crime across communities in Southampton.”
