Cllr Shane Cassells with local youngsters and officials at the launch of the Halloween soccer camp at Beaufort College, Navan

A new soccer camp initiative is aiming to keep kids off the streets this Halloween and give them a chance to develop their skills with the help of trained FAI coaches.

The joint venture between the FAI and RAPID has kicked off this week prior to the mid-term break as it brings schoolchildren together each evening from 4pm-6pm in Beaufort College, Navan, designed to give the local teenagers a free football activity.

All the participants will then be invited to take part in various free coaching sessions across the town during the mid-term break and encouraged to invite children along from the estates where the various pitches are located in Windtown, Boreen Keel, Clogherboy and Claremont.

It is all aimed at reducing antisocial behaviour over the Halloween period by giving young teenagers a healthy sporting option to take part in. The scheme, which is being promoted on Meath County Council's astro-turf soccer pitches, has been warmly welcomed by local county councillor Shane Cassells.

"So often we hear from young kids that there is nothing to do as a reason for just hanging around estates," remarked Cllr Cassells.

"Well, here is the game of football actually coming to every corner of the community on the astro-turf pitches we have developed across the town and with top-class FAI soccer coaches giving free coaching lessons," he said.

The focus is on the teenagers this week but next week the FAI will once again be providing free coaching sessions to six to 12 year-olds in Navan on the mini-pitches funded by Meath County Council and the FAI.