Positive Futures: The Story So Far

MORI research shows there are 7,383 young people engaged in Positive Futures. Positive Futures, a nation-wide scheme managed within the Home Office Drugs Strategy Directorate, aims to get vulnerable young people involved in sport and on track to a brighter future. The scheme has been running since 2000 and has so far helped over 26,000 10-19 year olds.

The research -- with project managers, partner organisations, and the children themselves -- shows nearly three-quarters of those who are involved are male, and almost one in five participants belong to an ethnic minority. Young people in the programme take part in one or more sporting activities (83% of young people), educational activities (nine per cent) and other recreational activities (eight per cent). Football and basketball are the most popular sporting activities (61% and nine per cent of all sporting activities respectively).

Whilst the project aims at helping to bring about long term changes in attitudes and behaviour, early evidence indicates that success is linked to the social use of sport in engaging interest, and raising young people's aspirations, the skills of front line staff, and the support of partner agencies.

Technical details

These results are taken from research conducted by MORI during January-April 2003. Self-completion questionnaires were mailed to 57 Positive Futures and 10 Nacro projects. A total of 62 projects returned their questionnaires, giving a response rate of 93%.

Key Information on Participants