Youngsters across the region can look forward to fitter futures thanks to the Derby County in the Community team.

Since October 2005 the Derwent Hat-Trick Project, managed by Richard Astle, has been working hard to involve more young people in football, promoting the healthier lifestyles and living in line with the government's obesity agenda.

The three-year project is managed by Derby County in the Community and is funded by New Deal for the Communities and UEFA.

The project is based in the Derwent ward of the city and its main aims are to improve curriculum and out of school hours learning opportunities within primary and secondary education, develop sustainable activities that enable young people in Derwent to access initiatives within their local community and empower them to be active in other communities and increase the number of residents involved in activities on a voluntary basis.

A major achievement of the project so far is Mathew Blakemore, a Derwent resident, completing his Level 2 FA Coaching Certificate as part of the Hat-Trick Apprenticeship scheme. He has been taken on for a further year by DCITC.

A new team has also been set up to provide competitive matches and training at the under-nines age group, while a locally based club, Sporting Cobraz, has achieved the FA Charter Standard status.

Over 500 young people have benefited from the project through schools, holiday activities and coach development courses.

The project has also played a pivotal role in securing over £500,000 funding for a floodlit ATP on the Racecourse.

The local community have played a massive part in the current success of the project and with the support of DCITC it is hoped that the scheme can continue to grow in the future.