More than £5,000 has been given to the organisers of a new youth karate programme entitled KICK which regularly takes place at the Barleyfields Community Centre on Friday nights co-odinated by youth worker Dee Lazenby.

KICK is aimed at stopping young people over 11 in Wetherby committing crime and anti-social behaviour by providing education, training and skills.

It teaches teenagers about gang awareness, drugs awareness, weapons awareness, first aid, anti-bullying and tries to raise education attainment.

The cash has comes from the council’s North East Outer Area Committee and Wetherby ward councillor funds.

Wetherby ward councillor Gerald Wilkinson, who is chair of the outer area committee, said: “It’s vital that we keep investing in projects like this that help to guide young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour.

“This scheme in Wetherby is helping to do just that by identifying those who might be vulnerable to falling in with gangs, and channelling their energy and potential into something positive.”

Wetherby ward councillor, John Procter added: “Anti-social behaviour has a negative effect on both society and those who engage in it, so it’s in all our interests to tackle the problem head-on.

“If we can raise awareness and target young people before they join anti-social groups or gangs, then hopefully we can stop a lot of this behaviour before it causes serious damage.”

Young people are partly identified for KICK through their schools and the Wetherby Night Angels – a group made up of representatives from the Youth Service, West Yorkshire Police and the Salvation Army, who patrol Wetherby’s streets between 9pm and midnight on Friday nights identifying underage drinkers and substance misusers.

Wetherby ward councillor, Alan Lamb said: “The idea of KICK is to boost young people’s understanding of the dangers of getting involved in anti-social behaviour.

“It give them the confidence to say ‘no’ to negative peer pressure.”