Sheffield-based young offenders education charity In2Change has welcomed the improving figures on reoffending in South Yorkshire.
The latest statistics from the Ministry of Justice shows more than a quarter of convicted criminals in the region reoffend within a year.
This was a decline in figures from previous years and a steep drop in the figures from 10 years ago.
The proportion of those aged 10-17 who reoffended was 22.75% compared to 29.5% in 2021-22. The In2Change centre is one of the reasons for this improvement.
Founded 18 years ago, the centre delivers interventions and programmes to help prevent young people from a life of crime.
In2Change Founder and Centre Manager, Brian Wreakes said: “It’s a perfect centre to distract them from getting involved in crime.”
Mr Wreakes said the centre is designed for education, with the ongoing need to raise awareness for all ages.
He added: “We educate young people in crime awareness but also offer vocational skills in beauty, fitness and nutrition, and music and recording.”
The reoffending rate in South Yorkshire for ex-offenders was lower than the national average across England and Wales, which stood at 26.3% in 2022/23.
But In2Change’s figures are even better, with less than 9% of the 34 ex-offenders and serving prisoners the charity has worked with going onto re-offend.
Furthermore, 10 of the 34 went onto gain full time employment within the charity.
Mr Wreakes said: “The people who deliver the programmes have got to be the right people. They have got to be lived experiences.
“Our mission is that we work with ex-offenders and serving prisoners to support rehabilitation by offering placements and employment.”
The latest figures highlight the need for intervention at earlier ages than ever before.
The highest age group for re-offending across the country was 15 to 17-year-olds at 33.8%, followed by the 10 to 14-year-old age group.
In2Change externally delivers crime intervention programmes to schools, colleges and universities to tackle this issue.
These programmes include theatrical sets for the delivery of role play, which Mr Wreakes said delivers a stronger message than just a DVD.
Mr Wreakes said: “It is not about scaring kids, it is about educating them.”