Motherwell Football Club have been working closely with Strathclyde Police in order to establish areas in the community where social problems exist and identify areas where diversionary programmes can be offered in order to re-direct youngsters and prevent them from getting involved in drink, drugs, anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in our local communities.

Community programmes are often flush with initiatives that are perhaps inadvertently aimed at young boys but through the ‘Step Up’ programme, the club have targeted predominately females (although males are not excluded) aged between 12-14 years of age.

The club assists the girls to feel a part of the community by being associated with the local senior football team in the area. Progress is monitored during the programme throughout the year and develops accordingly. There is a heavy emphasis on the promotion of a healthy life-style by providing dance instruction and cheer-leading activities.

This forty-week programme runs throughout the year and delivers four blocks of ten-week programmes each with a pre-determined target/goal to work toward at the end of the block in order to maintain a high level of interest.

The aim is to provide the target group with activities which they are interested in and which may benefit themselves and the community utilising existing good working practices with existing partners to deliver the programme.

The objectives of the programme include:

• Eliminate ‘risk-taking’ behaviour amongst youngsters.
• Promote social inclusion.
• Provide greater social and learning opportunities.
• Provide support after closure through North Lanarkshire Community Learning & Development Project/Youth workers.
• Increase awareness of drugs, alcohol and smoking, personal safety, internet safety, sexual health etc.
• Promote a healthy life-style.
• Install discipline, self-respect, social and behavioural skills, where   candidates arrive as individuals but leave as a valued member of ‘team’.
• Assist in breaking down barriers which may have existed in the community in terms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice.
• Develop positive relations with parents and promote family values.
• Develop positive relations with other partner agencies.
• Divert youths in a vulnerable age group away from anti-social behaviour at the weekends and develop a positive community well-being.

The programme is in its infancy, but with forty seven girls attending on the first night and the group maintaining a high level of interest and commitment to the course programme; it is evident that there is a real demand for this activity in the area. 

Working with our partners, the aim is to develop the Initiative over the forty weeks and keeping the first group of youths together and delivering a level two to the course and at the same time taking on another group. 

This would offer a rolling programme over forty weeks for all the groups and would keep a high level of interest in the project. The numbers of youngsters being offered the opportunity to do something positive and disciplined would lead to less anti-social problems with young people standing around on street corners and causing annoyance to the public and the community. 

Funding applications have been put in place in order to roll this project on for a four year period.

If you are interesting or require any further information on the Step Up Initiative then please call Bobby Jenks on 01698 338017, email him on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Alternatively, you can complete and send the interactive submission form below.