Ipswich Town Foundation joins police in new youth violence plan
The DIVERT programme will be targeted at 13 to 17-year-olds
Last updated 24th Dec 2023
A new programme which aims to improve the aspirations of young people likely to be or involved in serious youth violence has been launched in Suffolk.
The Ipswich Town Foundation has launched DIVERT, aimed at people aged 13 to 17 and funded by the police and crime commissioner as a way of acting on more need for targeted measures in response to serious violence and gang activity.
The programme will involve three cohorts of 12 young people undertaking 10 weeks of bespoke workshops delivered by Foundation staff alongside Suffolk Police.
"It gives them an opportunity to develop confidence"
Tim Passmore, Suffolk's police and crime commissioner, said: "I have seen first-hand the positive impact that being involved in sport has on young people, so I am delighted to financially support the DIVERT programme through a Crime and Disorder Reduction Grant.
“It gives them an opportunity to raise aspirations, develop tangible skills, develop confidence and increase employability.
“All too often young people make a wrong choice as teenagers and this limits their choices in the future.
"By showing the young people how to make positive life choices, it is hoped that they will become good citizens and develop leadership qualities that will help them to become more confident and principled adults.”
The programme will involve three cohorts of 12 young people undertaking 10 weeks of bespoke workshops delivered by Foundation staff alongside Suffolk Police.
The sessions will be aimed at reducing reoffending, raising aspirations, enhancing skills and improving employability, with workshops covering a range of topics from CV writing to knife crime and county lines.
"The programme is an invaluable community offering"
The programme also includes an hour of physical activity on the FieldTurf at Ipswich Town FC's Portman Road ground after each workshop.
Superintendent Andrew Martin, of Suffolk Police, said: “A whole public response is vital to tackling all types of crime and anti-social behaviour, but especially when it involves juveniles.
“The DIVERT programme from the Ipswich Town Foundation is an invaluable community-based offering from a key stakeholder in Ipswich.
“Their approach as a third party offers a chance for young people to engage with a service outside of a public offering in an informal and differing environment."
Programme helps push towards 150,000 target
The DIVERT programme is the latest addition to the Foundation's increasingly diverse provision, as it works towards a long-term goal of impacting 150,000 participants by the club’s 150th anniversary in 2028.
Dan Palfrey, director of the Ipswich Town Foundation, said: “We’re very grateful to Mr Passmore and his team for funding our DIVERT programme.
“This is a big step for us to be diversifying into this side of delivery.
"We want to be there for the local community’s needs and our aim of DIVERT is to help these young people realise that they can make positive life choices and in turn make a positive contribution to society.”