A scheme offering free ice skating sessions for vulnerable and socially excluded children in Nottinghamshire has returned to the National Ice Centre after a successful pilot.
The 10-week programme has been made possible through a partnership between Nottinghamshire Police, the National Ice Centre and Nottingham Express Transit (NET).
Children who participated in the pilot between January and March 2024 reported a 90 percent increase in trust and confidence to speak with police officers about their concerns. Some of the young people 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.
Now, 30 new young people aged between eight and 17 have been identified by Nottinghamshire Police’s youth outreach team – which supports socially excluded, vulnerable or crime-involved young people – to take part.
The aim is to provide children with a safe space to socialise, make new friends and learn new skills alongside delivering educational inputs from the police, fire service, army, and first aid to equip them with life skills.
Twenty girls and 10 boys have been invited to the Friday evening sessions, which started up again in September. The National Ice Centre is also providing a discounted pathway into ice sports and reduced-cost skating sessions, with a particular focus on girls and young women as ice sports traditionally have higher female participation.
Young people who attend at least seven of the sessions will be rewarded with tickets to watch a Nottingham Panthers ice hockey match.
The National Ice Centre and the NET tram network have specially trained staff available that young people can approach with any concerns and receive appropriate safeguarding support.
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.”
Eleni Hallam, Ice Sports Team Leader at the National Ice Centre, said: “We at the National Ice Centre are thrilled to see the return of this important programme for vulnerable children in Nottinghamshire. The free ice skating sessions and educational inputs provide a safe and supportive space for these children to socialise, learn new skills, and build confidence. We are proud to be a part of this initiative and look forward to seeing it continue to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in our community.”
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 attendees.
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.”
• A46 Newark: ‘Massive concern’ over £500m bypass to be built on floodplain
• East Midlands Airport expects 200,000 passengers to take half-term sunshine getaway
