Kickz sees Premier League clubs - along with more in the Football League - work with their local police forces to engage with young people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

Kickz started in mid-2006 after discussions between all of football's lead governing bodies, the Football Foundation and the Metropolitan Police Service. From an initial four pilot projects, Kickz has grown at a rapid rate, having an extraordinarily positive impact in the process.

Not only does Kickz give young men and women (generally aged 12-18) the chance to play quality football, it also offers them an opportunity to learn to coach and officiate in the game. At the same time, it is breaking down barriers between the police and young people, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and encouraging them to think about serious social issues such as the dangers of being involved in gang activity, carrying guns and knives or alcohol and drug abuse.

The regular contact that clubs and police have with the young participants is also an important element of Kickz. Most of the projects run three sessions a week, at times that the police identify as when there are most incidents of crome and anti-social behaviour. Projects are also targeted at areas that need them most. In fact, close to 90% of Kickz venues are located in the top 30% most deprived areas in the country.

Another hugely positive aspect to Kickz is how many people who up to now had little positive influence in their lives have now turned themselves around and are in fact playing a lead role in encouraging others.

Other reasons that Kickz stands apart is the fact that it looks to deliver the 'right' activities for the young people. Rather than implement a strict template across all clubs, each project looks to consult with participants about the nature of activities they want to get involved in. Whilst football always remains the key driver in every project, young people are encouraged to take ownership of one night a week (the 'flexible' session) and influence the activities that take place.

Music has become a popular addition to many Kickz sessions - where clubs like Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have regular DJ and MCing sessions (see story below). Different sports have also been a success, with basketball and boxing, along with dance classes, now incorporated across many clubs. Flexible sessions have also become an opportunity for health trainers to discuss issues like alcohol and drug abuse. In London the Metropolitan Police Armed Response Unit delivers sessions on their work and the real danger of carrying a weapon.

Sergeant Darren Hepple, Beckton Safer Neighbourhoods Team, who is heavily involved in the West Ham United Kickz project in Beckton, said:

"Communities are at the heart of the fight against gun and knife crime. Kickz has shown that there is a real willingness amongst the local community to get these weapons off our streets. It is by educating young people and offering them alternatives to gang, gun and knife culture. We can start to change behaviour and reduce crime."

Courtney, a participant on Tottenham Hotspur's Kickz project, said:

"The Kickz sessions have helped my confidence massively. Now the club even give me my own sessions to run sometimes, and that's been a great boost. Both my parents are very proud. I am really grateful to Spurs, they've made such a big difference."

For more information on Kickz, visit:

http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/our-schemes/kickz/

Over 1900 Kickz participants having now been involved in some form of volunteering on the projects.

1,100 young women engaged across the projects.

Local level crime and ASB reductions of up to 50% being attributed to Kickz projects.

Music and football has combined on a formal level this year with The British Phonographic Industry (BPI), via the Brit Trust, making £150,000 available to clubs to enhance the music element of their Kickz programmes.

One of the first clubs to take advantage of this was Manchester City. A number of young people on their project showed an interest in hip-hop music and were keen to further develop their MCing. With the BPI's assistance, a group of the youngsters were given a night a week for twelve weeks in a Manchester music studio, where they were able to record and develop their own tracks. At the end of the twelve sessions, the young people had created an entire CD, which was then made available to purchase in Manchester music stores.

All of the music was created by the participants themselves, with the title track 'Why Music?' spelling out a powerful message of why the young people feel music - rather than guns, drugs or crime - is the best way for them to channel their energies.

The BPI and the Premier League hosted an event in Westminster to launch the partnership. Alongside Fulham's Elliot Omozusi and Charlton midfielder Chris Dickson (who attended the Brit School), music stars Craig David, Shayne Ward and Kasabian also made an appearance. X Factor winner Ward performed two tracks alongside the Manchester City Kickz MCs, who gained a rousing reception from an audience that included Culture Secretary Andy Burnham and a number of other ministers and MPs.

More stories on Kickz:

Kickz project lands prestigious award