MET-TRACK, the scheme designed to divert young people who may not otherwise get the opportunity to sample such activities into sport, launched a brand new phase of its hugely successful youth engagement programme at the Charles Darwin School in Biggin Hill on 20 January.

Met-Track has chosen the borough of Bromley to start its new Schools Community Involvement Programme (SCIP), a new school-based athletics scheme.

Met-Track, which launched in 2005, is an initiative led by the Metropolitan Police Service in partnership with UK Athletics which gives young people in the borough the chance to receive international-class sports coaching from top British coaches and athletes. The diversionary scheme aims to offer sport to young people as a healthier alternative in life and is intended to reduce youth offending and be an investment for the future by involving young people in sport, developing leadership skills and self-esteem.

The scheme is delivered by members of past and present British international track and field teams and this new phase will see it being offered within a school environment for the very first time. It is hoped that this will then be extended to other boroughs across London. The two schools in the borough that will initially be hosting the scheme are the Charles Darwin School in Biggin Hill and Kelsey Park Sports College in Beckenham.

Superintendent John Powell, the MPS Met-Track Scheme Director, said: "I am delighted to see Charles Darwin supporting what is our first school-based scheme, along with Beckenham-based Kelsey Park. Met-Track is a tried and tested formula that delivers a unique opportunity to local young people to engage in sport with expert, international-class tuition. Met-Track is committed to helping make all corners of London safer places in which to live and work. Offering sport to young people is a fantastic way to prevent them pursuing less constructive pathways".

PC Bruce Anton, the Charles Darwin Schools Officer, said: "At Bromley we wholeheartedly embrace and support any initiative that gives positive opportunities to our young people. This is an excellent example of how we, together with world-class athletes, can create an environment where young people can be inspired, explore their hidden talents and channel their energies into something we all respect and want them to do well in. Everyone involved is a winner".

John Burtonshaw, Assistant Head teacher at the Charles Darwin School, said: "The Met-Track scheme is a positive attempt to provide all youngsters with the opportunity to receive international-class sports coaching and the response to the programme in the school has been excellent. We are hoping to gain additional sponsorship to ensure that the programme can grow and run into the summer months". Met-Track will now go on to provide free weekly coaching sessions in both schools until the end of the school year and hopefully thereafter, subject to funding.

Anyone who is interested in assisting in sponsoring the project should contact Jason Hussain via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it