our projects

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For over 10 years, the Mid-Wirral Crime Prevention Panel has funded Friday Night Football sessions.  Aimed at 11 to 17 year olds, this healthy sport activity provides young people across Wirral the opportunity to turn up with their friends and play small sided games & tournaments on 3G pitches - for free.    There’s no need to book. Players wanting to get involved can just turn up – on their own or with friends 

The weekly sessions offer an alternative for young people to hanging around on the streets, potentially becoming involved in anti-social behaviour, and provides a safe and organised environment where participation, physical activity and socialising is actively encouraged.   Regular  participants who attend each week are mainly from Higher Bebington/Lower  Bebington areas (Bebington High Sports College), Bromborough, Eastham, and we also have attendees from  Rock Ferry, New Ferry, Birkenhead, Claughton and Prenton areas. 

The sessions now take place at The Oval Leisure Centre, Bebington, every Friday night from 7pm till 9pm.

Wirral Council’s Sports Development Team helps young people access physical, healthy activities and lead the sessions supported by FA qualified coaches.  Wirral Council's Outreach Team  attends some of the sessions to offer counselling support and advice to any young people who need it.

The sessions have proven very popular, with attendance around 30 to 50 young people each week, but at peak times can reach over 100.

Merseyside Police have suggested that the activity helps to keep a lid on anti-social behaviour incidences in the area, and this is seen as a positive outcome when the sessions are in place.

Funding for the project over the years has come from a variety of sources including the Police and Crime Commissioner's Fund, Police Property Act Fund,  Garfield Weston Organisation and others.  The most recent sponsor for 2024 is demolition contractor J Freeley Ltd.

Although the activity is supported by Wirral Borough Council, they do not have the funds to run this project by themselves due to severe cutbacks in their budget which affects the provision of activities such as this which are NOT a statutory requirement.  This type of activity therefore requires continuing sponsorship.

In recent years we have obtained funding from various sponsors and paid for a number of events/activities, equipment including:-

• Sourcing and financing a Contactabus for Wirral Council;
• Laptop computers for Youth Clubs;
• X-Box games and equipment to furnish the Wirral South Mobile Police Station (which encourages young people inside and to engage with local police in a positive and constructive atmosphere);
• Canal boat trips for vulnerable young people
• Bowling sessions and Boxercise sessions for young women
• Provision of purse bells and other crime prevention equipment such as handbag keychain alarms to vulnerable residents;
• Publication and distribution of a Crime Safety advice booklet;
• Attendance at local community events and giving media interviews.