Ice-skating scheme for vulnerable children returns after successful pilot

A scheme that provides free ice-skating sessions and educational inputs for vulnerable children in Nottinghamshire has returned following a successful pilot programme.

Nottinghamshire Police partnered with the city’s National Ice Centre to provide 10 weeks of free ice-skating sessions for 30 vulnerable or socially excluded children between January and March 2024.

The project returned on September 13 after children who participated in the pilot reported a 90 per cent increase in trust and confidence to speak with officers about their concerns.

Some of the young people who attended the scheme expressed an interest in joining the force’s cadet programme or pursuing a career in policing, and used the experience for their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

A new group of girls and boys aged between eight and 17 have been identified by the force’s youth outreach team to take part, which supports socially excluded, vulnerable, or crime-involved young people.

The 10-week programme aims to provide the children with a safe space to socialise, make new friends, and learn new skills whilst also delivering educational inputs from the police, fire service, army, and first aid to equip them with life skills.

A total of 20 girls and 10 boys will take part in the Friday evening sessions, which have been enabled through a partnership between Nottinghamshire Police, the National Ice Centre, and Nottingham Express Transit (NET).

As part of the project, NET has donated complimentary tram travel passes to all the young people participating in the scheme so that they can travel safely to and from the sessions. They will also fund a selection of treat gift bags and refreshments for all those who attend.

The National Ice Centre is providing a discounted pathway into ice sports and reduced-cost skating sessions, with a particular focus on young women and girls as ice sports traditionally have higher female participation.

Both the ice centre and tram network have specially trained staff available that young people can approach with any concerns and receive appropriate safeguarding support.

To encourage participation, young people who attend at least seven of the sessions will also be rewarded with tickets to watch a Nottingham Panthers ice hockey match.

PC Oli Truswell, Nottinghamshire Police’s lead for the scheme, said: “It’s really important that we provide young people who may be at risk of being taken advantage of with a space to socialise safely.

“This scheme also provides those who are in care or from low-income backgrounds the chance to take part in something they may not otherwise get to experience.

“Vulnerable young people are at a greater risk of being exploited by criminals and ultimately, we want to get vulnerable children off the street and into a safe place, which will not only deter antisocial behaviour but enrich their lives.

“This programme is a great opportunity for us to engage with hard-to-reach children and provide educational and diversionary activities that are designed to build their trust and confidence.

“We’re looking forward to meeting the young people who will take part and I would like to extend my thanks to our partners for enabling this scheme.”

Trevor Stocker, NET’s head of operations, said: “The pilot scheme of this programme showed the full potential of community engagement like this, helping to make Nottingham an even better place to grow up and live in now, and in the future, and I’m sure the next 10 weeks will only build on that.

“As a public transport operator, our local community is a big part of what we do, which is why we’re pleased to support such vital initiatives like this as part of our ongoing collaboration with Nottinghamshire Police.

"With our tram passes, we can ensure that the children can travel to the National Ice Centre in a safe, convenient way.

“We've always shown a commitment towards safety for all our tram users as well as the wider community, and this project is just one of many ways we offer support. Over the years we’ve invested heavily into systems and processes to ensure that we can keep our customers safe.

"These include HD CCTV, help buttons at every stop for instant communication, a discreet WhatsApp messaging service and training for staff to help them recognise potentially vulnerable people and situations, with signposting to help.

"These everyday processes, combined with initiatives like the Nottinghamshire Police programme at the National Ice Centre, can really make a difference to lots of people’s lives and we’re so pleased to be part of it.”