A NEW initiative to help create a safer community is being launched by Middlesbrough Football Club (MFC) in the Community in the new year.

The Kickz project, which is opening in the Pallister Park area of Middlesbrough, will use the lure of football to tap into young people's potential.

Its main purpose is to target a local estate in a bid to help create safer, stronger and more respectful communities.

Funding for the programme in the first year will be provided primarily by the Treasury via the Football Foundation, with additional support from the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

Rob Lake, manager of MFC in the Community, said: "We are delighted to be part of this exciting initiative. We have a steering group in place with a wide range of partners including police, youth services, Safe in Tees Valley and Safer Middlesbrough Partnership.

"We are working closely with the Stem group (Stronger Together in East Middlesbrough) as it has match-funded our scheme. We hope to engage with the 13-to-18-year-old young people in the local area for three nights a week, providing coaching and competitive games. The third evening is all about the young people's choice of activities."

Graham Strange, co-ordinator with the Safer Middlesbrough Partnership, said: "We are always looking for creative ways to engage with young people.

"We feel that with the Kickz project having the backing of Middlesbrough FC, it will be able to capture those who generally hang about the streets and are at risk of being involved in crime and anti-social behaviour.

"The young people on the scheme will be involved in football three evenings a week, which means they are much less likely to get themselves into trouble. I think this is a great project that will be very popular and a huge success."

For further information, contact the Pallister Park Centre, in Ormesby Road.