​2016 on track to see biggest successes ever

​Met-Track has launched its “Vision 2020” with an application to the BIG Lottery Fund that Scheme Director and Founder, John Powell MBE, hopes will catapult the scheme into another four years of rip-roaring success!
 
With Met-Track now in its eleventh year, it is hoped that the application made to the BIG Lottery Fund for a further four years’ support will be successful, and see its vision of entering a third decade realised.
 
Meanwhile, the project is heading for its most successful year ever with many figures already exceeding those of past years, and way above the established performance targets set for 2015-16.
 
“We have put an enormous amount of work into the Lottery application over many weeks,” explained John, “and I have to thank Scheme Manager Matt’ Threadgold for putting in some extra shifts in drawing a lot of information together.  We hope to find out toward the end of the school summer term if we have been successful.  If we are, there will be some significant improvements to the way we deliver and oversee the project.”
 
If the funding is realised, the scheme will extend its age range from 10-17 to 7-21, will broaden its brief from tackling anti-social behaviour and offending to encompass the very real threat these days of extremism and radicalisation among young Londoners, and reshape its management structure to improve the efficiency of one of the most effective and successful youth diversion projects in the UK.
 
Meanwhile, a host of success stories have emerged in the early weeks of 2016, not least among those who deliver the project!  Met-Track coach and international sprinter, Josh Swaray, was selected to represent England at an indoor international in Austria, in February, only to be confronted by Scheme Director John Powell, who had been selected as Team Coach for the trip!
 
Former Met-Track stalwart, James Ellington, has been on fire in early-season competition in the USA, running a lifetime best 20.31s over 200m last Saturday (30th April), while former Met-Track youth ambassador for the scheme, David Bolarinwa, announced his comeback to the track with a blistering 10.35s 100 metres, also in the US – his fastest in 5 years! 
 
“Personal success stories for our coaches and staff are important because they hold a significant street credibility among the young people we work with,” said Scheme Manager Matt’ Threadgold.  “We are immensely proud of what our staff achieve as well as, of course, the impact we have on young Londoners.  Together we are delivering a quality package that serves to improve the quality of life for many, many people who live and work in the Capital.”