Enfield Council has hailed a summer activity scheme aimed at tackling crime and antisocial behaviour as a “great success” after hundreds of young people took part.

The council said the £100,000 activity programme – which included sport, cookery art and music – had received “extremely positive” feedback.

Council leader Councillor Nesil Caliskan announced the scheme in July following a 17 per cent jump in youth violence in Enfield during the previous 12 months.

She said the council would be targeting young people who had been identified by schools and social workers as being at risk of crime.

A report by the council’s youth service support manager Graham Jimpson states: “The summer programme was a great success and enabled young people to engage in a range of positive activities and the feedback has been extremely positive.

“The opportunities this funding has provided have benefitted young people and enabled them to engage in activities they would not normally be able to engage in.”

The council deployed teams of youth workers during the school holidays to make young people aware of the activity programmes.

Feedback from police was used to flag up potential crime hotspots, allowing youth workers to target areas most in need.

A total of 380 youngsters attended activities organised by the Alan Pullinger Youth Centre, which included visits to Go Ape, swimming, ice skating, ZAPP, Thorpe Park and Margate.

More than 150 young people attended the Craig Park Youth Centre, where they took part in street dance, life skills groups, healthy living, cooking and “boxercise” sessions with Edmonton Eagles.

The report states: “Anecdotally, members of the public commented how good it was for local young people to have access to such high quality positive activities.”

Youngsters have continued to attend in the evenings since the start of the autumn school term.

More than 500 youngsters attended activities at Ponders End youth centre, around half of whom were children with special needs.

Croyland Youth Centre and Enfield Island Village also hosted activity programmes.

The council said the remaining £25,000 left over from the scheme will be used to provide further activities during the autumn and help youngsters make the transition back to education.

Some of the money could also be used in the Christmas holidays.

The report will be discussed by the crime scrutiny panel at Enfield Civic Centre on Thursday (September 27) from 7.30pm