Saints form sport partnership with Perth and Kinross Council

Mar 9 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SAINT Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown showed youngsters some fancy footwork yesterday as the club hosted a council-funded Street Sport for All initiative.

The SPL club has formed an innovative sporting partnership with Perth and Kinross Community Safety Partnership.

St Johnstone coaches will take a mobile sports pitch to locations throughout Perth and Kinross, targeting areas where there are concerns about youngsters becoming sucked into anti-social behaviour.

The scheme has been piloted successfully in a number of communities and, as well as bringing entertainment and health benefits, it has been found to play a significant role in reducing youth offending and cutting down on alcohol abuse.

Street Sports has its own set of rules which centre on minimal contact, respect and fair play.

During breaks in play local community police officers, youth workers, firefighters and community wardens can also take the chance to introduce themselves to youngsters.

Councillor Willie Robertson, convenor of Perth and Kinross Council's community safety committee, said: “This partnership with St Johnstone is a really exciting development and one which should expand the opportunities for young people to become involved in sporting activity throughout Perth and Kinross.

“St Johnstone's involvement will increase the expertise available and has the potential to make a real difference in local communities.”

His enthusiasm was echoed by Saints chairman Mr Brown, who said: “St Johnstone FC is the only senior club in Perth and Kinross and this initiative fits in very well with the club’s successful community programme.

“In conjunction with Perth and Kinross Council and Tayside Police we are looking to cover as wide an area as possible in order to benefit as many young people as we can.”

Chief Superintendent Craig Suttie from Tayside Police added: “We are very supportive of the Street Sports for All initiative.

“This is a fantastic tool which enables various agencies to effectively engage with young people who might otherwise be difficult to reach.

“As well as delivering a much needed activity in areas which may be affected by anti-social behaviour, it provides young people with positive role models and gives us the opportunity to find out what issues affect them.

“It also gives us the chance to build more meaningful relationships and breaks down barriers which may exist between some sectors of our local communities and the police.

“Putting communities at the heart of everything we do is extremely important to us.

“This is just one of many initiatives we support because we see it as something which helps young people become responsible citizens, effective contributors and more confident as individuals.”