Pizza Project cuts youth crime on Norfolk estate

Shyanne, Libby and Shanice say the best activity at The Pizza Project is karaoke

A youth project is being praised for helping reducing anti-social behaviour and violent crime.

The Pizza Project in King's Lynn, Norfolk, welcomes more than 50 young people, aged between nine and 18 on Friday nights.

It is based at The Beacon, a Methodist Church on the North Lynn estate, run by King's Lynn Team Ministry and youth workers provided by Norfolk County Council.

Norfolk Police says the collaboration has led to a "noticeable drop in youth-related crime and anti-social behaviour".

The Rev Jon Price says the sessions are "a joyful chaos"

The North Lynn estate is a deprived area which has seen high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Rev Jon Price is Team Vicar at the Beacon, which offers young people the chance to play sports, sing karaoke and eat pizza together every week.

'Wonderful and rewarding'

He said young people in North Lynn suffered from low expectations and aspirations in life.

"A change of environment can really do wonders for individuals," he said.

"Sometimes it being on their terms and them being able to invite themselves in, can really pay dividends for behaviour."

He added: "It's gone in directions maybe we hadn't anticipated and that's been really promising, wonderful and rewarding.

"They surprise you, the way they interact with one another and us. It's really promising."

Supt Sonia Humphreys, from Norfolk Police, said: "As a result of wider work in the North Lynn area, of which the pizza project is one important element, we have seen a noticeable drop in youth-related crime and anti-social behaviour recently.

"This is clearly a step in the right direction and we hope that our communities are also seeing the positive changes."

Youth workers Fiona Chaddock and Ben Griffin say young people on the estate enjoy having something to do

Rev Jon also praised the "wisdom and support" of Norfolk County Council for funding youth workers to join the sessions.

'What they wanted was pizza'

Fiona Chaddock and Ben Griffin guide the young people in their activities - but said the children always get a choice of what they want to do.

"It's an area of deprivation and an area of need with some incidents of drug dealing and serious violence," said Mr Griffin, who grew up on the North Lynn estate.

"What they wanted was pizza. So we started by centring everything around that."

Ben said by letting the young people take the lead they develop their confidence and trust in staff.

Ms Chaddock said: "We have all sorts of stuff. Crafts, sports, karaoke. That's really popular - we love hearing the same song again and again every week.

"It's a space they can see their friends, just hang out and be safe."

Thomas, Vinny and Joe say the club means that they are not stuck at home or hanging about on the streets

Ask any of the young people at The Beacon on the night we visited and they all agree what the best part of the club is- the pizza.

Fifteen-year-old Libby says she loves Friday nights.

"If I wasn't here I'd just be at home sleeping," she said.

Shyanne, also 15, said: "Like now it's winter. It's cold and like here you've not got to worry about being outside or it being dark."

Twelve-year-old Vinny has made new friends and has enjoyed the feeling of independence.

"There's kind of free rein to kind of do anything, of course within reason. If I wasn't here I'd be playing computer games on my own at home."

Sixteen-year-old Thomas says it is good to feel like you are somewhere safe.

"It's a comfortable place to be after college or school," he said.

"And my favourite thing to do here is eat the pizza."