The Leeds United Foundation are delivering an expanded Premier League Kicks programme in Halton Moor to tackle anti-social behaviour in young people through a love of football.

The innovative scheme which involves coaching and education is now being supported by further funding to expand from just one evening a week at Meadowfield Primary School to seven days a week. Premier League Kicks was developed to encourage ‘hard to reach’ 8-19 year olds from across the community to get involved in constructive activities in a safe environment and it was the Premier League that provided the majority of funding for the programme since it began in 2014.

Funding for the Halton Moor project was originally funded with the help of Leeds City Council’s outer east housing advisory panel and the extra funding is being provided by sources such as Veolia and the council’s outer east community committee as well as the Leeds United Foundation itself.

This funding will not only mean more sessions but it will also involve two behaviour learning support officers working with children in and out of schools to improve their attendance and attainment levels. Since the programme started in the area in 2016 levels of youth-related anti-social behaviour has dropped by 40 per cent already.

Michael Kinsey, the Premier League Kicks Programme Manager from the Leeds United Foundation, has spoken about the expansion and said: “Hopefully being able to deliver these practical sessions seven times a week will channel children away from negative influences and into positive directions.”

Temple Newsam ward councillor Debra Coupar added: “It’s fantastic that funding has been secured to run the sessions seven days a week and I’m delighted local young people can benefit from such a high quality scheme, delivered locally at the heart of where it is most needed.”