Breaking the cycle: How Argyle’s award-winning programme addresses ‘root causes’
Alliance of Sport network member Argyle Community Trust, the official charity of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, recently won the Best Championship Community Project at the EFL Awards for its ACTing with Children Programme. We spoke to the Trust’s Chief Operations Officer Jason Chapman (pictured right) about the award.
Hi Jason, and congratulations on the award. Can you tell us about the ACTing with Children programme?
ACTing With Children supports children and young people aged 0-18 in Cornwall who have a parent in prison. Argyle Community Trust provide tailored one-to-one and group support to children and young people affected. We take referrals directly from families and from organisations working with families affected, with their consent. Awareness training is also provided to professionals in Cornwall by specialist charity, Children Heard and Seen. The project is supported by the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Chief Constable, and Safer Cornwall through the Serious Violence Prevention Programme Breaking the Cycle.
Why is this early intervention so important, and what are some of the wider associated impacts that children and families can face?
Early intervention is crucial because it significantly reduces the likelihood of further crime in the future by addressing the root causes of anti-social behaviour before they become entrenched. When support is provided early – whether through education, mental health services or family support programmes – it helps children develop positive coping mechanisms, build resilience and stay engaged with school and community. This proactive approach not only steers young people away from the Criminal Justice System, but also lessens the broader impacts families might face, such as social exclusion, financial strain and intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. By intervening early, we create stronger, safer communities and give children a better chance at a successful, crime-free life.
Who helped to develop the programme?
The development of the programme was a result of strong multi-department collaboration, bringing together expertise from various sectors to create a holistic and effective approach. Importantly the process also integrated lived experience within the company, ensuring the programme was not only informed by professional knowledge but also grounded in real-world understanding. This collaboration enriched the programme’s design and delivery, making it more relatable and impactful. A key contributor to the programme was the charity Children Heard and Seen, which played a vital role in training staff, particularly in areas where understanding the experiences of children affected by parental imprisonment was essential – ensuring the support provided is truly child-centred and informed by specialist insight.
What is the long-term impact of this with regards to intergenerational prison outcomes and helping to ‘break the cycle’?
A growing body of research, including several white papers and longitudinal studies, demonstrates that early intervention plays a critical role in reducing future criminal behaviour. Timely support for vulnerable children and families can prevent the escalation of risk factors and promote long-term positive outcomes. Notably, school exclusion has been identified as a significant predictor of future gang involvement and criminal activity, as excluded children often seek a sense of belonging in negative peer groups. By intervening early – particularly within educational settings – programmes can help maintain school engagement, reduce exposure to criminogenic influences and foster protective relationships. In the long term, such interventions are instrumental in disrupting intergenerational patterns of imprisonment and supporting young people to achieve better life trajectories, thereby contributing to safer, more cohesive communities.
Following the award, what would your message be to other partners across the Alliance of Sport network?
At Argyle Community Trust, we are proud to be delivering a vital youth intervention programme in Cornwall, supported by grant funding through the ACTING WITH CHILDREN initiative. This programme focuses on supporting children and young people affected by parental imprisonment – a group that is often invisible to statutory services. It is estimated that over 500 children in Cornwall could be impacted by a parent in prison, yet alarmingly there is currently no specific government department responsible for supporting these vulnerable individuals. Our work aims to fill this gap, providing early, targeted intervention to help break the cycle of disadvantage and reduce the risk of future harm. We urge professionals, educators and community members to visit our website at argylecommunitytrust.co.uk to learn more or to refer a child or young person who may be affected.
Read about the award at pafc.co.uk
Find out more about the programe at argylecommunitytrust.co.uk