New sport-focused drive to support safer futures for young people

Sport is being put at the heart of a new push to keep young people across Merseyside safe.

Liverpool School Sports Partnership (LSSP) has joined forces with the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP) to champion the role sport can play in improving wellbeing, building resilience and steering young people away from harmful influences.

The not-for-profit organisation, which has worked with schools across Liverpool for 25 years to develop sporting and wellbeing initiatives, will lead a special webinar later this month as part of the MVRP’s Merseyside Schools Network.

Titled Sport as a Catalyst for Violence Prevention, the online session takes place on Thursday 19 March from 4pm to 5pm and will be delivered by LSSP joint CEO Jimmy McGinn. It’s aimed at school leaders across the region looking to strengthen early intervention approaches and create safer, more supportive school environments.

The Merseyside Schools Network brings together education professionals to share practical ideas and resources focused on prevention, giving schools access to insight from specialists working on the frontline.

During the session, Jimmy will highlight how regular participation in sport can promote positive behaviours, strengthen decision-making and provide young people with a constructive outlet. He will also outline how schools can use physical activity to help pupils build confidence, develop resilience and feel a stronger sense of belonging both in school and in their communities.

Jimmy said his experience in martial arts and community sport has shown him first-hand the power of structured physical activity.

He said: “From respect and integrity to determination and teamwork, when delivered correctly, sport can be a powerful outlet and provides a valuable opportunity for early intervention.”

Alongside the webinar, LSSP is also working with the MVRP to roll out its DADDR personal safety programme in selected schools across Merseyside.

Designed for pupils in upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3, the two-week programme helps young people understand personal safety through the DADDR framework — Detect, Avoid, Defuse, Defend, Report — giving them practical knowledge around situational awareness and emergency preparedness as they gain greater independence.

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell welcomed the partnership, saying: “It’s vital that we give young people the tools, confidence and opportunities to make positive choices. Sport is one of the most powerful ways to do that and we’ve seen many times on Merseyside how it can make a genuine difference to a young person’s future.”

School leaders and education professionals can sign up to the webinar through the Merseyside Schools Network.

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