Great outdoors to turn young tearaways into model citizens

Published on Tuesday 13 May 2008 10:53

TEENAGERS who keep getting into trouble with the police are to be sent on adventure courses to give them a fresh start.

The Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, was due to launch a new mobile unit today which will serve as a "base camp" for outdoor expeditions aimed at turning round the lives of persistent young offenders.

He announced the customised, multi-purpose vehicle would be used in a pilot scheme by Lothians and Borders Community Justice Authority to help young people who are at risk of finding themselves in secure accommodation or custody.

The initiative is part of the Scottish Government's drive to strengthen community penalties as an alternative to locking people up. Those to be considered for the Chance for Change programme will be youngsters aged 14 to 18 who repeatedly commit low-level offences such as vandalism and petty theft.

They will take part in tough and challenging seven-day expeditions, accompanied by staff at all times, in different parts of Scotland. The aim is to build their confidence and improve their people skills.

The new mobile unit is described as "totally self-sufficient" and able to work anywhere. It carries laptops and multimedia equipment that can be used for planning expedition routes, course reviews, action planning and research.

The 123,000 pilot project will be run by the Venture Trust – which will provide a personal development programme through the mobile unit – and Includem, a registered charity with a track record of intensive work with young offenders. Referrals will come from Children's Hearings and local authority criminal justice social work staff.

Mr MacAskill said the programme would give young offenders the "confidence and motivation" to make changes to their lives.

He said: "I am greatly encouraged to see that Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authority proposes to use the unit to provide a service for young people who are facing the transition from the Children's Hearings system to the adult criminal justice arena, and who could be at serious risk of finding themselves in secure accommodation or custody.

"I will be taking a keen interest in learning how this exciting initiative progresses and whether there is an opportunity for adoption of a similar approach in other parts of Scotland."

The 12-month pilot is expected to involve up to ten young people in Lothian and Borders who have been identified as the most likely to be placed in secure accommodation or custody because of their offending behaviour.

The project is being overseen by a joint steering group, with representation from each local authority area covering both Youth Justice and Adult Criminal Justice, the Scottish Prison Service, the Scottish Courts, Children's Hearing and support from the procurator fiscal service.