A PIONEERING youth project which began in Bude and Callington to tackle problems of anti-social behaviour is set to expand and go countrywide with a massive cash injection from the lottery.

Community Action Through Sport, which promotes and rewards positive behaviour in young people, has been secured for the next three years with the £256,750 grant which will also see more than 30 new branches set up under a CATS UK organisation.

In the region of 600 young people from Callington Community College have been involved with the scheme, which has provided numerous activities and volunteering opportunities over the past three years.

Vice-chair of Callington and Saltash CATS Michelle Roberts, who has been made vice-chair of CATS UK, said it was brilliant news.

'This means that we will get national recognition for the project and be able to extend what we do and share good practice with other organisations across Devon and Cornwall. It will also give us an opportunity to link with some London youth projects.

'It is fantastic news in what is a very difficult economic climate at the moment.'

Michelle said CATS was all about promoting positive behaviour in young people: 'It really hits the anti-social behaviour agenda and it's been successful because it involves the schools, the police, the youth service and voluntary services all working together to tackle some difficult issues and get young people engaged and on board.'

CATS community projects in the Callington area include installing a skate ramp, community clean-ups, an art project at the children's centre, weekly football sessions and summer holiday kayaking programme, speed monitoring, bulb planting with the primary schools and the new Friday Night Project — this provides a youth café and music venue which has been so desperately needed in the town.

Youngsters are rewarded with sports vouchers, in recognition of their volunteering work, at a presentation ceremony each year at St Mellion Golf Resort.

The vice-chair added that through early intervention and youngsters developing a relationship with the police, it was likely that CATS had prevented some people from getting involved in anti-social behaviour.

The lottery funding will develop the street paddler (canoeing and kayaking) scheme in 13 areas of the South West and across the UK, which will see 20% of participants taking coaching qualifications and volunteer as coaches in the community.

It will also see 30% of schools in the South West engage in volunteering in the school community, provide eight surf reward weekends for positive young people from the inner cities and give the opportunity for local youngsters to host a multi-cultural experience.

Thirty-six community projects will be set up and run by young people for young people.