A NEW sports shop is set to launch at Church Square Shopping Centre this week.

Sports Traider, which provide opportunities for young people, is due to open its fourth charity sports shop in the region at the St Helens shopping centre.

It had been scheduled to open last week, but this was put back.

An official launch will also take place on Wednesday (May 10), with the store situated near the shopping centre's post office.

Sports Traider has already launched projects in Birkenhead, Bootle and Crosby - all part of Operation Stonehaven - and have been providing opportunities and assisting with activities to lead young people away from a life of crime.

The chain says that it has worked with Merseyside Police and local authorities, and since 2019 more than 30 people have been supported with full-time, part-time, and volunteer working within the stores and eight people have been retained by Sports Traider as fully paid workers.

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Lance Haggith OBE, founder of the charity, said: “To have four shops in the Merseyside area is great and those involved in the projects are really seeing the benefits of working with us.

“Our activities and employment opportunities are there to provide an alternative to young people who may be getting caught up in a life of crime, or who may not know where to turn.

"We are here to help and by working with other organisations we are able to support more and more people.”

What is Operation Stonehaven?

Operation Stonehaven is Merseyside Police force’s preventative and diversionary pathway for young people who are on the cusp of criminality and at risk of being exploited.

It is part of Project Medusa - the Merseyside-led initiative set up to tackle County Lines drug dealing and the criminal exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults.