VPS is putting the findings of its Safer Sites, Safer Futures campaign into action by funding a Sport4Life UK programme providing safe spaces and positive opportunities for young people.
Over 25 young people aged 11-14 took part in a free football event at Hodge Hill College in Birmingham on Tuesday 1st September, where they had the opportunity to play football, develop their skills and meet new people in a safe and supportive environment.
But VPS’s involvement goes much deeper than simply sponsoring a summer holiday activity.
The partnership has grown directly from an issue VPS sees through its work protecting vacant and vulnerable properties across the UK: an increase in youth-related breaches at customer sites during the school holidays.
The data is unambiguous: 64% of all summer youth-related vacant property breach incidents occur after mid-July.
It was this pattern – and concern not only about the security of the sites themselves, but the potential danger to young people entering vacant buildings – that helped prompt VPS to look more closely at what lies behind the increase.
Understanding what happens beyond the fence line
Through its Safer Sites, Safer Futures campaign, VPS explored some of the factors that can draw young people towards vacant and potentially dangerous buildings.
The research highlighted boredom and a lack of meaningful activities for teenagers as contributing factors, alongside the influence of social media and the growing trend for urban exploration, where vacant buildings can become destinations to explore, film and share online.
One of the central messages to emerge was that physical security remains essential in protecting both properties and people from harm – but it cannot provide the whole answer.
Providing young people with positive opportunities, meaningful activities and safe places to spend their time can also form part of a preventative approach.
Sport 4 Life UK brought two decades of experience supporting young people to the Safer Sites, Safer Futures campaign, helping shape the conversation around early intervention, trusted relationships and the importance of creating positive opportunities for young people.
VPS has now extended that relationship by funding activities delivered by the Birmingham-based charity – turning some of the campaign’s findings into practical action.
Seetan Varani, Managing Director of VPS UK, said:
“Through our work protecting vacant and vulnerable properties, we see youth-related breaches increase during the school holidays. In fact, 64% of the youth-related vacant property breaches we record over the summer occur after mid-July.
“Safer Sites, Safer Futures encouraged us to look beyond the incidents themselves and better understand some of the factors that can draw young people towards these sites.
“Keeping vacant buildings secure is essential, particularly because they can be extremely dangerous places for young people to enter. But security is only part of the picture. If boredom and a lack of meaningful activities can contribute to the problem, then creating positive opportunities and safe places for young people to spend their time has to be part of the conversation too.
“That’s why supporting Sport4Life makes so much sense for us. This isn’t simply sponsorship of a summer holiday football event. It’s an opportunity to take what we’ve learned through Safer Sites, Safer Futures and turn that insight into positive, preventative action.”
Creating safe spaces through sport
Sport 4 Life UK supports young people to overcome barriers and create better futures through sport, mentoring, skills development and employability support.
The free football activity at Hodge Hill College combined football and skills development with the opportunity for young people to meet others and spend time in a safe environment supported by trusted adults.
Tom Clarke-Forrest, Founder and CEO at Sport4Life UK, said:
“For a young person, having somewhere safe to go, something positive to be part of and adults who believe in them can make a real difference. Sport gives us a powerful way to create those opportunities, build trusted relationships and help young people develop confidence and skills that reach far beyond the football pitch. That’s why this partnership with VPS is so important. It takes a challenge they are seeing in communities and turns it into positive, preventative action – creating opportunities for young people rather than simply focusing on the risks around them.”
For VPS, the partnership is also an opportunity to extend the legacy of Safer Sites, Safer Futures beyond research and discussion.
VPS and Sport4Life are now exploring opportunities for further youth activity, continuing a partnership built around a shared belief that safer sites and safer communities go hand in hand.
Media coverage
The story has also been covered by a number of industry and business publications:
- Security Journal UK – https://securityjournaluk.com/vps-kicks-off-safer-futures-for-young-people/
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