Thru Life is among over 200 grassroots organisations across England and Wales that have recently been awarded funds from the £5 million Youth Justice Sports Fund delivered by the Ministry of Justice.
The fund will support organisations that have shown in their bids they have a track record of keeping at-risk young people away from crime and antisocial behaviour.
The number of children caught up in crime is at a historical low – falling by 81 per cent since 2010 but youth crime still costs the taxpayer £1.5 billion a year. Research shows 80 per cent of prolific adult offenders started on their path of crime when children, making the need to steer more young people away from lawbreaking all the more critical.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab visited a Thru Life sports session at Ferry Lane Cruyff Court on 21 January to announce the news and see first-hand the work the organisation does to create a safe environment for young people in the local community.
He was joined by Thru Life founders Richard Allicock and Michael Donaldson, and former professional footballer and Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff who was recently appointed as Thru Life ambassador in November 2022.
Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Dominic Raab, said:
“I know first-hand how powerful sport and mentoring can be in turning young lives around.”
“Sport has the power to boost confidence, build resilience and teach discipline, and evidence suggests sports can be effective in reducing offending among young people. That’s why we’re supporting over 200 organisations across England and Wales to encourage more young people to engage with sport and stay away from crime.”
Co-founder of Thru Life, Richard Allicock, said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded this funding, which will help us to continue the positive work that we are doing in the community but also extend our offer to engage with more young people across the borough of Haringey utilising the powers of sport through our mentoring offer.”
Thru Life ambassador Jobi McAnuff said:
“Organisations like Thru Life do amazing work. I know how important activities and places like this are, and to have positive role models, particularly in areas like this where I grew up.”
“You can’t take shortcuts in life, whether that’s to be a professional footballer or whatever you want to achieve. There will be tough times in life, so if you have a passion for something like sport, it can help you to stay positive and committed.”
Since being founded in 2020 during the pandemic, Thru Life has supported over 100 young people in Haringey and surrounding boroughs. They have delivered a range of programmes from football, basketball, and fitness sessions to healthy cooking workshops, chess, FIFA-gaming and anti-knife crime workshops all to show young people alternative pathways away from crime and anti-social behaviour.
Tom* who regularly attends Thru Life programmes said:
Thru Life has helped me to grow in confidence through the sports sessions I attend teaching me and others different skills that would better place us on our journey through life, and to help us make positive choices.
The Sports Fund has been co-ordinated by Street Games and the Alliance of Sport for Criminal Justice, with the support of the Sport for Development Coalition – an umbrella of more than 250 charities in the sports sector.
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*Tom’s name has been changed to protect his identity.
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Youth Justice Sport Fund official announcement
