Funding extended for programme to steer young people away from crime across the Wirral

A national programme that aims to steer young people away from crime before they have ever been charged with an offence has had its funding extended for a further year in Wirral after returning encouraging results.

The Turnaround programme is co-ordinated here by Wirral Council’s Youth Justice Service and since 2022 has been making a positive impact on the lives of the more than 300 young people in the borough it has worked with.

The scheme was initially funded for three years by the Ministry of Justice and will now continue for at least another 12 months as the government has provided additional funding.

Turnaround is targeted at reducing the number of young people who become involved in the criminal justice system for the first time.

It does this primarily through early identification of young people who may be engaging in anti-social behaviour and those most in need of support through strong community partnerships with the police, anti-social behaviour team and schools.

In addition to direct referrals, police intelligence and stop and search data can be used to try and ensure that no young person who may need support is missed. 

Intervention is based on the needs and strengths of each young person and family and takes a mentoring and prosocial development approach, through a combination of one-to-one support and access to a programme of activities. 

Wirral Turnaround programme supports young people to develop their decision-making skills, confidence in themselves and introduces them to positive activities that they can continue to access after the programme ends.

To date, more than 300 young people who were all considered at risk of being arrested and entering the criminal justice system, or getting involved in anti-social behaviour, have been worked with and to-date only six have been involved with the police or courts after offending again since the intervention.

Cllr Ann Ainsworth, Vice Chair of the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee for Wirral Council, said:

“The success of the programme in improving outcomes for vulnerable young people is outstanding and is testament to the hard work of the staff but also the young people and their families for engaging with the scheme with such commitment.

“I’m incredibly proud of these young people who have, literally, turned their lives around.

“I’m delighted we have been able to extend the programme by 12 months and we will use that time to future proof it, looking at areas where it can be continued beyond 2025/26 to support our young people and show them that they matter.”

A professional who has worked with young people as part of the programme, said:

“Turnaround has been an excellent programme to work alongside for young people who are at risk of or experiencing exploitation and on the verge of criminal behaviour. This has allowed us to offer support to young people at an earlier stage, completing appropriate direct work and diversionary positive activities. I think a real positive from Turnaround has been the flexibility to support groups of young people and peer groups.”

Find out more about The Turnaround Programme here.

Find out the latest in Liverpool here.