YOUNGSTERS are being targeted in a new council-backed scheme to get them off the streets and into sport.

The new scheme, Moving Up Through Leisure, is aimed at young people aged between 11 and 16 years who are socially excluded and who may be causing problems at home, in school or in the community.

Some of them may be involved in criminal activity or be on the fringes of crime and the project aims to guide them into sport, leisure opportunities and training.

The project, commissioned by the council's Youth Offending Team, is recruiting one full-time project officer and two part-time family support workers to operate the scheme.

They will develop partnerships between agencies and other projects and encourage young people to develop positive behaviour and attitudes and new skills.

The project will support parents of young people with problems by helping them to understand what is normal, adolescent behaviour.

It also shows them how to deal with difficult and challenging behaviour and discover conflict situations that occur between the parents and the young person.

Cllr John Byrne, executive member for culture, said: "The scheme will divert young people who may be causing problems now or could in the future into something more positive.

"Sport can play a very positive part in their lives and through training opportunities give them more chances in life."