Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive Lisa Pursehouse has underlined the success of the Club’s flagship Positive Futures programme in delivering a huge reduction in juvenile crime in Cotgrave.

The merits of the scheme are set to be further debated after the Club made a request to Rushcliffe Borough Council to convert an element of a £1.23 million loan to grant in recognition of the step change in the attainment and aspiration of the town’s young residents.

“Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club has a long-standing partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council and believe it is vital that funding decisions are debated extensively to ensure that the outcome is in the best interests of Councillors and residents,” said Lisa.

“Positive Futures has delivered significant success for the Trent Bridge Community Sports Trust and Rushcliffe Borough Council including a 76% reduction in juvenile crime over three years and police savings, in 2010 alone, in excess of £300,000.

“More than half of all 10 to 19 year old Cotgrave residents have enjoyed access to the scheme and the individual stories of attainment, employment and prosperity are the most important indicators of the progress that has been made in a council ward that was highlighted amongst Nottinghamshire's worst for the prevalence of juvenile crime and anti-social behaviour before the launch of Positive Futures.

“We are immensely proud of the progress that has been made in Cotgrave as a direct result of this scheme and hope that the outcome of this debate allows us to further strengthen our bond with the town.”

A meeting of councillors will take place on Thursday evening at the Civic Centre in West Bridgford.

A second Positive Futures project is set to launch in Hawtonville in April as a condition of the funding package provided by Nottinghamshire County Council in support of the building of a second permanent replay screen at Trent Bridge.