A PROJECT on the Isle of Wight set up to tackle youth anti-social behaviour in the Bay area, has provided free sports sessions for hundreds of children — many of whom have gone to win accolades and become mentors.

With the Sandown Bay area starved of free youth activities for the past five years, alongside the police's concerns about increased anti-social behaviour, the Bay Area Youth Project was established in 2022 — and has gone from strength-to-strength.

The project offers free sports sessions to children aged ten to 18 years old, who live or go to school in the Bay area.

Read more: Youth project awarded £3,000 grant by Freshwater Parish Council

(Image: Community Action IW) The sessions, which include tennis, cricket, basketball, and boxing, are run by qualified coaches and are designed to be fun and safe for all abilities, in an environment where everyone respects each other.

The project's 2025 programme got under way this week, with boxing sessions at TJ's Gym in Lake for girls on Tuesdays (aged ten-13 years, 4-4.45pm; 14-18 years, 4.45-5.30pm), and for boys on Thursdays (same age groups and times as the girls), run by coach Zoe Portsmouth.

For further information

• Julian Wadsworth, community resilience co-ordinator for the Bay area and youth intervention development officer, Community Action Isle of Wight: JWadsworth@actioniw.org.uk

• Zoe Portsmouth (boxing), youth engagement worker, Bay Area Youth Project, Community Action Isle of Wight: ZPortsmouth@actioniw.org.uk

• Mhari Webb (tennis, cricket and basketball): MWebb@actioniw.org.uk

Indoor sports sessions are also held at the Bay Secondary Sports Centre on Wednesdays cricket and tennis (5pm-6pm) and basketball (6pm-7pm), run by coach Mhari Webb.

The project, which has provided other sporting opportunities, such as golf, bowls and skateboarding, also plans to kick-start football sessions and run multi-beach sports this year.

(Image: Community Action IW)

(Image: Community Action IW) It has helped young people with "low confidence and self-image issues", as well as those with unhealthy weights, to become more confident and active.

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Zoe, a former County Press reporter, said: “One of the greatest benefits I see in young people attending our sessions, is improved self esteem and confidence — not just through skill development, but also within themselves and the impact they can have on the local community.

"Another positive is the increasing number of young people who have been, or are involved in, the project — asking us about employment opportunities to develop as youth workers.”

The project was launched by resilience officer Julian Wadsworth, of Community Action Isle of Wight — initially with grant funding of £9,500, from from the charity, Energise Me, which champions physical activity for all in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

(Image: Community Action IW) Since then, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin councils have all provided annual financial support, together with additional funding from organisations such as the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, Sport England, the Golf Foundation and the Ministry of Justice, for example.

The project also provides coaching qualifications and other training opportunities for young people aged 14 to 25 years old.

The GB Boxing Awards sessions, which are non-contact and focus on skills and technique, physical fitness, nutrition and physiology, have been the most popular.

The scheme has proved to be a success — chosen as one of three national case studies for best practice from 230 UK-wide projects.

More than 103 young people have received boxing awards through the project, with many going on to join affiliated amateur boxing clubs, including some on the Island.

"The initiative has had many successes since it started, including young people progressing through the programme, initially referred by the police, but who are now qualified coaches volunteering to support their younger peers," said Julian.

It has also been praised for its vital role in helping to prevent and intervene in anti-social behaviour among young people.

The project operates a formal referral system for young people, who trigger initial concerns, or escalating behaviours around anti-social behaviour, criminality, or who are at risk of child exploitation or have been victims of crime.

The project uses sports, physical activity and also the arts (through a dance and fitness session with Shanklin Performing Arts, each Friday, 1-2pm), alongside developmental opportunities, including training, "as a tool to build positive and trusting relationships with young people and their parent/carers".

"Looking to the future, we would like to grow the project — supported by the development of new community youth and sports facilities in the Bay area, which are much needed and vital for young people and the community," said Julian.