The Merseyside Young Transformers Programme was launched by the Community Foundation for Merseyside in partnership with Merseyside Police and other agencies in November 2007. The aim of the programme is to create a united purpose – businesses, individuals and organisations coming together to raise money that supports communities as they tackle gang culture and gun crime in Merseyside. The programme is about supporting young people and providing real opportunities that move them away from gang culture and potentially gun crime – one of the key social issues in Merseyside.

The project  provides small grants of up to £2000 for selected areas of Merseyside to provide activities that transform young peoples’ futures. Priority for grants is given to projects that: help engage with young people who are ‘at risk’ of becoming involved in crime and antisocial behaviour; offer activities aimed at stopping gang related violence; reduce crime and anti-social behaviour; protect young people from becoming victims; build relationships between the police and young people; or provide support to the victims of gun crime and their families. Essentially it aims to support and give confidence to local people exploring local solutions to the issues.

Results so far have been positive. Local projects succeeded in reducing levels of anti-social behaviour in their areas by 11.6% in the programme’s first year. One project saw 20% of attendees who were previously repeat offenders gain employment and another project created a youth engagement framework that has encouraged young people attending the pilot project to mentor other young people.

MYT has been noted as a model of best practice by the previous government’s Home Affairs Select Committee and the Channel 4 Street Weapons Commission in 2009. The programme continues to operate and was launched last year in Lancashire based on the Merseyside model’s success.