A Good Citizen Scheme in Llandudno Junction is growing in strength with over 180 members now registered.
The scheme, which is being run in partnership with Llandudno Junction Junior Football Club and local police, is already being noted as one of the successful initiatives which along with unrelated police operations is helping to drive down anti-social behaviour in the area. Latest figures for the area reveal a drop of 16% in all crime and a reduction of over 11% in anti-social behaviour.
The scheme has been going since November. Youngsters, from seven to 16-years-old, signing up for the club agree to be enrolled in the good citizen scheme, which as well as playing football sees them help out on community initiatives and activities which benefit the local area and people. The agreement however also outlines that if the footballers behave in an anti-social manner or come to the attention of police then they face losing their place in one of the 12 teams or being suspended by the club.
Local District Inspector Ian Verburg said: “This is one of a number of initiatives in Llandudno Junction that is aimed at reducing anti- social behaviour (ASB) and the crimes that affect the local community. Not all crimes and ASB are caused by youths in the community but this is a long term strategy to tackle youth behaviour now and to seek long term results as they become adults.
“The results in Llandudno Junction in the last 12 months speak for themselves with an overall reduction of 16.4% in all crime, reduction of 26.5% in criminal damage and reduction of 11.8 % in ASB. The area has seen a reduction in the last 12 months of 7.1% in the numbers of juveniles coming to Police attention by arrest.”
Speaking about the scheme, PC Mike Smith said: “I came up with the good citizen scheme as I wanted to make the club into more than just a football club. I wanted to encourage civic pride amongst the youngest residents in the hope that as they get older they will respect what they have helped create and also encourage their friends to do the same.”
As part of the community element of the scheme, each month PC Smith along with a group of youngsters get involved in litter picks / beach clean ups with local residents and Keep Wales Tidy, and other community initiatives which have included helping out at lunches for the elderly residents. The young footballers also work hard at fundraising for the club.
PC Smith added: “The scheme is going from strength to strength and community groups from our area, as well as others, are requesting the help of the children and young people. The boys themselves are taking their representation of the club very seriously.”
“The children have a new found sense of civic pride and respect the facilities provided to them as they have seen first-hand the hard work that goes into obtaining them,” added PC Smith, who has worked in Llandudno Junction for the past two years.
Great things are also happening at the club thanks to an array of sponsorship that has been secured from a variety of sources.
Already all new members signing up for the club are given a tracksuits and waterproofs thanks to sponsorship from the Fire Service Arson Reduction Team and PACT (Police and Community Trust). More recently grant funding was secured from Sports Wales and Conwy County Borough Council to develop the football pitch at the club’s ground complete with state of the art drainage, which will ensure the children will have an excellent flat, dry surface on which to play during the winter.
Funding from PACT and Conwy Town Council is also resulting in a portakabin at the club being refurbished to double up as a cafeteria and class room, which will hopefully see the teaching of basic first aid to youngsters. PC Smith hopes to use the facility as a ‘job club’ for older members about to leave school – to assist with writing CVs and any job applications.
PC Smith added: “We hope to expand the scheme to get more children coming along. The club is open to boys and girls and it would be great to get more girls coming along to redress the gender balance. The next part of the plan is to organise a youth council in the hope that the members can get involved with getting more facilities for their own community.”
Dave Evans from PACT said: “We are delighted that our funding has been invested in such a worthwhile initiative. It is very pleasing to see so many young people getting involved in their community, and having such a positive impact. “