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Thursday 29 Oct 2009

LANARKSHIRE SCHOOLS TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN TACKLING RAIL CRIME

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Colin Nell, one of Europe’s top freestyle footballers, becomes the first guest coach as part of the No Messin’ Active Schools programme, when the Lanarkshire based initiative begins today (Monday 26 October). 

Network Rail has teamed up South Lanarkshire Leisure’s Active Schools Initiative to develop the programme of sports activities designed to tackle the issue of youth railway crime in the region.

Lanarkshire towns have featured consistently in the top five worst regions in Scotland for railway crime, with 122 incidents of trespass and vandalism reported in nine towns during 2008.

Aimed at 32 schools in South Lanarkshire, including four high schools (Cathkin HS, Calderside HS, Stonelaw HS and Trinity HS) and 28 local primary schools, the No Messin’ Active Schools initiative will provide five extra curricular activities in each of the schools between now and summer 2010, with further events planned during Easter and summer holidays. The aim is to reduce the likelihood of young people trespassing and vandalising the railway by introducing them to new sports and providing an outlet for them to participate.

The No Messin! Active Schools’ initiative builds on the success of Network Rail’s No Messin’ Live! event which took place at Hamilton Palace Grounds in July 2009. The free event attracted over 2,000 young people through the gates to participate in a range of sports, art and music activities   

The No Messin’ Active Schools initiative is anticipated to culminate in an inter-school event at a No Messin’ Live event next summer, where pupils from schools across the region will have the chance to complete against one another.

The scheme’s success will be measured by the number of young people taking up new sports, with a long term objective of reducing railway crime in the area.

Mark Henderson, Network Rail Community Safety manager commented:

“Lanarkshire is fairly unique in that five railway lines run through the region, including the busy West Coast main line. That means that the railway is at the very heart of the community here and it is always a lure for young people looking for somewhere to hang out of sight from adults.

“The No Messin’ initiative aims to show that there are more productive, enjoyable ways to spend your time than hanging around near the railway. Our involvement in Active Schools demonstrates that we have a long term commitment to tackling the issue of rail crime in the area.

Chair of South Lanarkshire Leisure’s Board, Councillor Gerry Convery commented:
"The ‘No Messin’ partnership project between Active Schools and Network Rail will provide pupils with the opportunity to participate in more physical activity in their local community as well as educating them on the dangers of the local railways. The support from Sportsmatch will allow even more young people to benefit from this project which will encourage long term participation in physical activity.” 

Councillor Mary Smith, Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Education Resources Committee agreed. She said:
“This is part of an ongoing drive to ensure that pupils of all ages are encouraged to be as fit and healthy as they can be. The range of activities on offer is so diverse and exciting that I am sure uptake will be high and the initiative will be a huge success in the area.”

Active Schools is an ongoing initiative run by South Lanarkshire Council. Network Rail has contributed approximately £10,000 to expand the programme’s reach, recruiting new coaches and providing transport to pupils to enable participation. SportScotland matched Network Rail’s contribution as part of SportsMatch, SportScotland’s scheme to support grassroots sports projects and encourage community participation.