03/12/09

The Paul Hunter Foundation’s Snooker Youth Club has scooped two awards over recent weeks. It came first out of six projects recognised for helping to solve community issues in Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley.

The Snooker Youth Club then scooped a National Award when it won the Children and Young Peoples Service Team of the Year at an awards ceremony.
The criteria for the award is that the winning team has made the greatest impact in improving the life choices of children and young people.

Established in 2006, in memory of three times snooker masters champion, Paul Hunter, the Paul Hunter Foundation aims to give disadvantaged, able-bodied and disabled young people an opportunity to play snooker.

The snooker workshops were the brainchild of North Lancs Training Group employee, Chris Lovell and they are open to young people aged 8 to 18. The emphasis is on fun, with 15 minute snooker, a 60 second challenge and trick shot tuition, replacing the traditional long-form game. It has proved hugely popular and now around 100 young people attend each week.

The sessions pull together a range of services, including the Youth Offending Team, Lancashire Constabulary and the North Lancs Training Group. All have the common aim of providing activities for young people and reducing antisocial behaviour. Part of the coaching and training sessions focus on educating children on the dangers of becoming involved in drinking and taking drugs, and on wider social issues, such as bullying and racism.

By educating children in these issues it is hoped that this will lead to improvements in their quality of life and will have a positive impact on the community. Since the launch of the sessions, the Youth Offending Team has reported a 63 percent reduction in first time entrants to the criminal justice system.

On behalf of North Lancs Training Group and the Paul Hunter Foundation, Chris Lovell said, “We are over the moon to win both the awards” and he paid tribute to everyone involved.

There are three key reasons for our success. It is the skill and commitment by all the session leaders who deliver the snooker sessions for the youngsters, this then works in hand with our key partnership organisations, such as the Young Peoples Service, YNOT, YOT and the police, backed by the support of North Lancs Training Group and the trustees of the Paul Hunter Foundation. A big thank you to everyone.

The six times world snooker champion, Steve Davis also congratulated the project on its award by saying “It was quite amazing what the team have achieved and I am very proud to be part of it”.

For further information contact Chris Lovell on 07970679810 or chris.lovell@nltg.co.uk