May 2026: ASDA AND J FREELEY LTD SPONSOR LOCAL FOOTBALL

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Local demolition contractor J Freeley Ltd, who have carried out several major demolition schemes by the Council in recent years have agreed to sponsor our annual Youth Diversionary Programme that pays for free football sessions for young people on Friday nights at the Oval Sport Centre from April to September for the third year running.  They have been joined this year by the Asda Foundation who are also contributing £1000.

This well supported scheme, which has been supported by the Mid Wirral Crime Prevention Panel for over 10 years current attracts around 50 young people each week, keeping them off the streets on Friday evenings when antisocial behaviour within our community is more likely.  

As you can see from the photo above, the activity is welcomed by both boys and girls who come along to the sessions led by a qualified football coach.  The initiative is also supported by Wirral Council's Active Wirral team, Merseyside Police and Wirral Council's Outreach Team who periodically visit to offer support to any young people who may need help with issues such as neglect at home, peer pressure to get involved in acts of crime and antisocial behaviour, or other issues affecting their mental and physical health.

The activity, led by qualified Sports Development Coaches, is free to all young people aged between 11 to 17 between 5pm and 7pm at the Oval Leisure Centre (similar events held at  Guinea Gap Leisure Centre (6pm till 8pm) and Leasowe Leisure Centre (5pm till 7pm). No booking is required - just turn up and have fun!

The Mid Wirral Crime Prevention Panel has been  successful in winning two bids for funding that will provide activities for young people in South Wirral.  Around this time of year, as the nights draw in, several communities in South Wirral see a rise in antisocial behaviour issues - particularly around the so-called Mischief Night, Halloween and Bonfire Night periods and through to Christmas.  Some places like New Ferry have, in previous years, seen serious ASB issues occur with young people causing criminal damage to cars and property, starting fires and launching fireworks at members of the public.  

However, over the last two years, we have worked successfully with Merseyside Police, Wirral Council's Outreach (Youth Contact) Team, local youth clubs and other agencies to work on a strategy of action to minimise the problems and these efforts have been successful in making reductions in the number of incidents.

For this season, the Mid Wirral Crime Prevention Panel made several funding bids for a new and expanded initiative called the Wirral Youth Diversionary Programme (WYDAP) and has been successful in two of them.  The Albert Hunt Trust has donated £4,000, and The Johnson Foundation has given the community £1,750.  Both organisations share an interest in community development and cohesion.  Their money will be used to fund diversionary activities for young people to provide them with things to do other than be on the streets potentially causing trouble for local residents.

The funding will be spent on activities organised by Wirral Council youth workers and will include bowling sessions, indoor climbing walls, "wheels extreme", football sessions and safe and responsible computer gaming experiences supervised by qualified staff.  Referrals will be made by Wirral Outreach staff who already have contact with young people in the community, some of whom have been participants in antisocial behaviour, and the staff also work with these young people to find out why they engage in acts of antisocial behaviour. Reasons for their behaviour can include peer pressure, but also issues at home, and within families that affect their mental and physical wellbeing that manifests itself in their dysfunctional behaviour.  The Team are experts in offering disaffected young people support and advice to help see them through difficult periods in their lives.