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A Crystal Palace FC-led scheme is helping keep scores of youngsters off the streets amid a surge in knife crime across the country.

The Palace for Life Foundation’s Breaking the Cycle programme started work with south London’s youngsters last April, providing help and guidance to 8-19 year olds put forward by schools, police and agencies such as the Youth Offending Service.

The project aims to give its participants, some of whom have been caught with a knife, others who may have been excluded from school, a positive focus in life, helping direct them towards training or employment.

Its targeted interventions officer Ernest Eghan, 30, has been working with young people for half his life.

At a time when violent crime in the UK, and especially among London’s teenagers, is under the spotlight, he told the Standard that by helping some young people turn their life around, a “ripple effect” can result in others following suit.

Who the project helps Young people caught in possession of a knife or weapon Those with a history of or are at risk of school exclusion through truancy, school refusal or violent behaviour Young people and their families already known or previously known to mainstream or statutory services Those whose peers engage in anti-social behaviour and who lack a social network Those who have been exposed to violence in public and private

He said: “What we want is to cause a ripple effect, you want those who have been in the project, if others see a young person who has been what they have been through coming through that they will follow.

“There is a lot of negativity surrounding these young people, it’s good to highlight the success.

“The power of installing life skills, things like preparation, planning, psychological and social skills, will help them find work, so they don’t feel they are beneath a glass ceiling.”

Breaking the Cycle has so far worked with 62 young people, with only two going on to reoffend.

Explaining his role, Mr Eghan added: “I mentor them on life skills, making them have a plan for the future, helping them to break that cycle of following, selling drugs, whatever it may be.”

Official figures this week revealed that the number of knife criminals being dealt with by the justice system has risen to a 10-year high as more repeat blade offenders are taken to court

The Ministry of Justice statistics show that 21,484 people, including 4,686 from London, were prosecuted or cautioned for knife offences in England and Wales in 2018. The figure is the highest since 2009.

A total of 4,430 of the 2018 offenders were juveniles aged 17 or under.

That was slightly down on the previous year’s total but higher than any of the preceding years up to 2009 in a sign of the increased prevalence of knife use among children.

“Growing up in poverty there are barriers, blockages, a lack of opportunities,” Mr Eghan said.

“But there are a lot reasons why people carry a knife or a gun. Fear, pride, people who want to get fame, who want to conform because things are bad at home, they want to feel part of something.

“We’ve had great results; three who are working, two in Palace club shop, five onto traineeships, one into full time education.

“Many have developed life skills, we’ve given them the tools not just to stay off that road, but to use them to better their lives.”

He added giving young people plenty of time and care can have a huge effect on their wellbeing.

The project has Worked with 62 young people Only two people have reoffended 31 participants have received two issue-based workshops Five have enrolled on a traineeship programme

“It is key that we have people to mentor these young people,” he said.

“A lot of them ask for help but they get help for one or two weeks and then don’t have any more. They need that engagement, they need to feel they are cared for, cared about.”

He explained the project’s link to Crystal Palace FC has helped. He said: “Working at Crystal Palace is important as the power of football, the power of the badge is so strong.

“When they see its Crystal Palace, when they come in wearing that tracksuit to Selhurst Park it is not intimidating.”

On the knife crime problem among teenagers in London, he added: “This has always been there, it has just been highlighted more.

“There’s more stereotyping in terms of young people’s behaviour.

“But young people are actually very curious, they want to learn and if you can physically show them there’s a different path it’s possible to save them. I always think you can always save at least one.”