BRIGHTER Opportunities for Play has been officially switched on at Sunninghill School, Daubhill.

The switch-on was part of the Safer Cities Project which is aiming to decrease vandalism in schools by floodlighting playgrounds in the evening for sporting use by local youngsters.

Bolton Leisure Services Sports Development Unit is involved in outreach work with various groups, identifying an interest in a specific sport and putting together a programme for them which builds up a respect for their school and the surrounding area.

Various training packages have been put together, including the community sports leader's award, football association preliminary coach award and basic expedition training award. The courses are running throughout the autumn and winter.

Once training is complete, it is hoped that the young people will then go back into the community and pass on their skills to other young people, encouraging them to "challenge their energies positively".

Cllr Tom Anderton, of the leisure services committee, said: "This scheme at Sunninghill is dedicated to Mohammed Bobat, a young man who lived in the area who died last year, but who canvassed Leisure Services about lack of provision for sport in the area.

"He would have been delighted to see his idea come to fruition."

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