A project to help young people who have got involved in, or are at risk of getting involved in antisocial activities has launched in Welwyn Hatfield.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and YC Hertfordshire have worked together to develop the project, using a Community Safety Grant of £26,000 from the Police and Crime Commissioner and additional resources from YC Hertfordshire.

The grant will help to employ youth workers to work with partner organisations, including schools and local agencies.

The project is for one year and will focus on early intervention with young people in both Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, working with their families to signpost them to the right support.

Sarah Redington, the lead youth worker for the Positive Pathways project, said: “My role is to support young people in accessing a range of positive activities which develop their future opportunities and potential.”

When a young person is referred to the project Sarah will meet with them and if appropriate, their wider family.

As part of an action plan they develop together, they may look at a range of opportunities the young person can pursue, including support from the wider YC Hertfordshire service such as one-to-one support, careers advice and guidance, support in accessing projects and programmes which develop their confidence, skills and future life opportunities.

If appropriate, referral to more specialist support services can be made, as well as supporting the needs of the wider family.

The grant awarded for Positive Pathways and Sarah’s role is in addition to one awarded last year by the PCC, which is helping to fund projects and professional training based on spotting the early signs that young people are at risk of involvement in serious crime or gang activity.

Welwyn Hatfield’s Community Safety Partnership (CSP) will also provide funding of £2,000 to contribute towards projects and activities that help deter young people away from crime and ASB, and remove any potential barriers they may face when trying to access these.

Councillor Bernard Sarson, executive member for partnerships, said: “It’s great that this project is now up and running and it can start to make a tangible impact.

“Not only on the lives of those young people who may be about to follow the wrong path, but on families who may be struggling to deal with these issues and need support and understanding themselves.

“This has the potential to change lives and I urge schools, families and young people who feel they need help to contact us as soon as they can.”

To find out more about the project visit www.welhat.gov.uk/positivepathways or www.ychertfordshire.org/

To refer a young person or self-refer, you can access the referral form from www.welhat.gov.uk/positivepathwaysReferral forms and concerns you may have for a young person should be sent to positivepathways@welhat.gov.uk