Many of the communities in Burnley are either mainly white or Asian. Young people rarely travel outside their local area. There are few opportunities to mix with young people from other areas.
Burnley's multi-agency problem solving team (MAPS) - an operational group coordinating some of the actions in the community safety plan - recognised that sport could help to reduce segregation. Dambusters targets young people hanging around on the streets. It is one of several projects aimed at tackling segregation and anti-social behaviour.
Sessions last for three hours and include football, dance, drama, and gymnastics. There are six free sessions each week. Police intelligence about anti-social behaviour hot spots feeds into the plan for each week's visits. Between 15 and 20 young people attend each session.
Dambusters aims to improve cohesion, levels of participation in activities, health (by reducing underage drinking and smoking), as well as providing support and guidance to young people. All of this combines to reduce criminal and anti-social behaviour.
Dambusters costs £27,000 a year. The Council’s sport and play development unit, working with MAPS, the youth bus project and local community centres, run Dambusters.
Young people look forward to Dambusters. They have changed their behaviour because they value the project.
'When you get with people from other communities it helps to change your views of them.'
- Young Dambusters participant.
'I didn't think I'd connect with anyone round here. This [project] helps you fit in.'
- Young Dambusters participant.
The police reports a 19 per cent decline in anti-social behaviour in one of the project’s areas. Local residents are positive and the project is accessible, reliable and relevant to young people.