Young people in Renfrewshire enjoyed a ‘festival of football’ at St Mirren Park this week thanks to a unique partnership.
Players aged 12-16 were at the Carbrini@JD Indoor Airdome for a five-a-side tournament organised by the local Street Stuff programme and the national Bank of Scotland Midnight League with Scottish Government ‘Cashback for Communities’ funding.
Street Stuff is an award-winning programme diverting young people away from antisocial behaviour. There has been a 75% reduction in youth disorder in Renfrewshire since Street Stuff began in 2009.
The programme is a partnership between Renfrewshire Council, St Mirren Football Club, Engage Renfrewshire, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue.
Bank of Scotland Midnight League is a national network of 5-a-side football supported by the Scottish Football Association (SFA). SFA coaches teamed up with Street Stuff co-ordinators to run the festival.
Councillor Eddie Devine, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Environment Policy Board, said:
“It was great to see so many boys and girls enjoying this ‘festival of football’ and there looked to be some really good players among them – hopefully we’ll see some of them pull on the black and white and play in the stadium one day!
“At our recent budget meeting, the Council committed £100,000 of annual mainstream funding to the Street Stuff programme, so that it can continue to grow and help more of our young people.
“It’s a testament to the hard work of everyone involved that it has become so popular and effective in such a short space of time.”
Click on this link for more information about the Street Stuff programme.