New programme to help prevent criminal exploitation of young people in Kirkdale

We’ve received funding from Merseyside Police to work with young people in a Kirkdale primary school to help prevent criminal exploitation.

Through mixed martial arts and classroom sessions our team are working with pupils aged 9 to 11 to mentor and support them to make good decisions.

Paul Walmsley our Lead Intervention and Education Specialist said:

“Many of our young people in Merseyside are growing up in disadvantaged communities like Kirkdale where opportunities are often lacking and they’re at higher risk of being criminally exploited.

“Using sport and physical activity as a way of breaking down barriers we hope our classroom sessions with Years’ 5 and 6 will teach young people about the dangers and consequences of gun and knife crime, dealing drugs and the realities of convictions and prison life.”

The programme in Kirkdale St Lawrence School started in September and sees the NLB team deliver one sports and one classroom-based session to over 90 pupils every week throughout the school year.

Jo Campbell, Headteacher at the school said:

“There are many advantages to the partnership but the overriding positive of working with NLB is how well they understand our kids, our community and their needs and challenges.

“This is essential in a school like ours. It means that Paul and the team have been able to make good relationships with staff, children, and parents. Trust has been quickly established which is a non-negotiable when dealing with children who have had the lived experience that many of our children have. This has allowed for some really impactful work with some of our most vulnerable and hard to reach children. “

She added: “NLB has opened many doors for us as a school. We are now part of numerous projects that support the personal development of our young people that wouldn’t have been open to us without our work with NLB.

“Personal development is the foundation that all other work in school stands on so the fact that NLB have helped up significantly enhance this offer is brilliant for us as a school; but most importantly the kids.”

The programme is funded by Merseyside Police’s Operation Stonehaven which supports early intervention activities with young people.

And builds upon our existing weekly school programmes running across schools in Merseyside funded by Merseyside Police’s Project Medusa initiative where we visit schools in crime hotspots.

Since 2019, Project Medusa has been nationally recognised as a leading force in tackling County Lines drug dealing and the exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults.