Meeting place for young people

The background of the project is low organized sports affiliation in the area (22-24 %). The project meeting place for youth has a health perspective, where participating youth increase their physical activity, while the conditions for reducing social exclusion increase. This can in the long term contribute to a decrease in youth crime in the area.

By using sports and the fundamental values of sports clubs, the project aims to increase the self-esteem of young people and create concrete integration-building opportunities. By creating a positive cohesion among youth with different backgrounds and from different places, the conditions for a better life increase.

The project has been granted support for a qualified project manager position at 50%. The project manager will plan, arrange, and lead night basketball for children in grades 4-9 in Köping. Among the participants, young leaders will be trained and developed to lead other youth. Training in association knowledge and leadership will be conducted by SISU. Arranging also involves recruitment work in schools and other places where youth gather today. This includes physical visits as well as work in social media channels, engaging local media to reach youth and their parents. Additionally, booking venues and carrying out the necessary routines in the venue. The project manager is responsible for the implementation of the activities. The entire project is driven by a collaboration group consisting of representatives from the club's board, municipal officials, SISU, and the Police.

The purpose of the project is twofold, as it offers an alternative to ”aimlessly hanging out” while getting youth to be active. Reduced or no training is problematic from a health perspective. Social exclusion regarding sports is significant in certain residential areas, and it is also difficult to make contact with parents. Disturbing activities from children and youth often arise in these areas, and a drug culture is spreading among young people. Some lead to criminal activity. The result is a poor upbringing that harms both individuals and society.