Using Sport to Transform Young Lives
Steering young people away from risk and towards brighter futures
The Sport and Youth Crime Prevention Project continues to make a significant and positive impact on young people’s aspirations Delivered as part of the Active Essex Foundation’s programmes, the project provides far more than just access to positive activities.
Through a trusted network of Local Trusted Organisations (LTOs), young people access safe, supportive environments where they can build confidence, explore new interests, and connect with positive role models, helping divert them from the risks of youth criminality and exploitation.
Alongside these activities, the project equips participants with essential life skills through mentoring, training, and recognised qualifications, strengthening their wellbeing, aspirations, and future pathways. Together, these elements reinforce the project’s commitment to early intervention, empowerment, and long‑term positive outcomes for young people across the county.
Partner Case Study
Several young people who took part in the Smart Courses experienced clear improvements in their education, employment, or training status. Some who had previously disengaged from school re‑enrolled in education, while others secured work experience placements or apprenticeships, building on the confidence and skills gained through the programme. Many also took proactive steps toward employment, preparing CVs, attending interviews, and actively seeking job opportunities, and some enrolled in further training or vocational courses, showing renewed motivation for their future. These changes have had a significant impact, with participants feeling more optimistic and better equipped to overcome barriers to education or work. This progress directly helps reduce the number of young people who are NEET and highlights the positive influence of the Smart Courses on their lives.
Over the past four years, AEF has focused on evidencing the impact of sport as an early intervention tool for those at risk of youth crime. Acting as a conduit between the criminal justice system and a growing network of upskilled of LTOs, AEF ensures that vulnerable young people across Essex, Thurrock, and Southend are supported in the right place, at the right time.
The programme combines signposting into positive community sport with more intensive 1:1 mentoring and group-based Smart Course interventions such as Girls Inspired, BoxSmart On The Ropes, and Sport Smart. Across the year, most referrals came from young people who were NEET, highlighting the project’s increasingly vital role in re-engagement and aspiration-building.
Young Person Case Study: Kyle, 16
Kyle was NEET, excluded from school, and dealing with a chaotic home life, which left him with little trust in professionals. Through martial arts sessions at 5 Elements and alternative education at 1Up, he gradually built a positive relationship with his mentor. Over time, he completed a CV, obtained ID, and opened a bank account. Kyle is now working in roofing and paying for his own gym membership, a clear journey from NEET status to growing independence.
AEF also worked with DWP and Colchester City Council to deliver the Summer Refocus Project, a short, sharp intervention combining sport, mentoring, and employability support. Young people benefited from a mix of boxing, football, gym access, CV writing, interview preparation, and volunteering opportunities, leaving more motivated, focused, and ready to take next steps in education or employment.
Young Person Case Study: Anwar, 16
Anwar struggled with exclusion, NEET status, gang involvement, and severe mental health challenges. Re-engaging through rugby and boxing offered him structure and support from trusted adults. He has since returned to college and is now exploring pathways in both football coaching and electrical training.
The project is supported by a wide network of partners, including national bodies such as the DWP, alongside local authorities including Maldon District Council, Essex County Council, Colchester City Council, and Basildon and Thurrock councils. Youth Justice Services across Essex and Thurrock play a key role in referrals and coordinated support, while the Essex VVU and PFCC provide strategic backing. The work is further strengthened by a broad network of 80 LTOs across the county and corporate partners such as the London Gateway Freeport Community Investment Fund, whose investment helps extend the project’s reach and impact.
Young Person Case Study: Sam, 17
Sam faced exclusion from education, poor mental health, and gang pressures. After engaging in boxing sessions, he began volunteering at ATF, eventually progressing into paid work. He is now gaining valuable coaching experience and also works at Newlands Gym. His story shows a strong transition from NEET to meaningful and sustainable employment.
Key Learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Engagement
Sport provides a powerful way to connect with young people and build trust
Integration
Combining life skills and safety education within sessions boosts participation
Focus
Active, practical sessions keep young people engaged for longer than classroom learning
Motivation
Blending movement with structured learning reduces disengagement and increases energy
Access
This approach makes essential skills easier to learn in non‑traditional settings
Partner Case Study
Team Fitness reported that the project has driven positive changes in education engagement and progression behaviours, particularly among young people at risk of disengagement or becoming NEET. While not a formal education or employment provider, the programme plays a vital preventative and re engagement role by combining sport, mentoring, and confidence building. Young people who were previously disengaged showed improved attendance, focus, and motivation in school, alongside a clearer understanding of post 16 options such as college, training, volunteering, and employment. Through supportive mentoring, they became more confident in discussing their future goals, and developed essential transferable skills, including teamwork, communication, confidence, and time management, reinforced through group activities and leadership opportunities. Overall, the project has helped young people build the confidence, motivation, and resilience needed to stay engaged in education or training, reducing their risk of becoming NEET.
Looking to the future, AEF aims to strengthen recognition across the criminal justice system of the vital role community sport providers play in early intervention. With increasing referrals linked to NEET risk and school-based vulnerabilities, the project will continue focusing on supporting young people into positive pathways, education, training, and employment.
