‘Turnaround Camp’ helps put teenagers on the right track

Derbyshire Constabulary funded a youth project, ‘Turnaround Camp’, last month to help get wayward teenagers back on the right path. The camp ran for five days, getting ten children involved with team-building activities in the countryside, including map-reading, night navigation, mountain-biking, walking and caving.
The Turnaround Camp, which is thought to be the first police-led initiative of its type in the country, was fully-funded by Derbyshire Constabulary with support from the Erewash and Amber Valley Community Safety Partnerships.
The camp was held at Hagg Farm Outdoor Education Centre and the idea was commissioned by Derbyshire Constabulary from Pleasley Vale Outdoor Activity Centre, which provided instruction and supervision throughout the week.
Three safer neighbourhood policing staff worked with the activity centre staff to help look after the teenagers.
The ten youngsters involved were selected from the division area by their local safer neighbourhood team as those most likely to benefit from the experience.
Graham Jarrett, anti-social behaviour coordinator for Amber Valley Community Safety Partnership and project leader, said: “The Turnaround Camp was designed to be just that; a project to help turn children around who are starting to go down the wrong path.
“These individuals just need some guidance and assistance about the choices they`re making and the direction they’re going in. We hope that the experience they`ve received at the camp will give them the confidence and motivation to make positive changes in their school and home lives.”
Andy Mason, from Pleasley Vale Outdoor Activity Centre, added: “The teenagers have learnt a lot about group work. At the beginning of the week they were working against each other, but they’ve learnt to help each other out to get the tasks and activities completed.
“It’s definitely positive that the police are tying in with this sort of work, to help those involved understand what’s right and wrong and to learn from cooperation and teamwork.”
Following the success of the residential course, the constabulary is planning six more four-hour weekend sessions to further encourage interest in outdoor activities and a variety of hobbies.
Gemma Nash, anti-social behaviour coordinator for Erewash, said: “We are very pleased by the success of the Turnaround Camp and how well the young people have responded to the week.
“We hope that this continuing support and input from the police will help these children to turn their behaviour around to become responsible and sensible members of the Erewash and Amber Valley community.”