STEVE Davis was back in East Lancashire recently supporting the Paul Hunter Foundation in a scheme to help youngsters through snooker.

The six-times world champion visited venues across the area who have been holding programmes used to develop a wide range of skills.

The Paul Hunter Foundation has been working in partnership with North Lancs Training Group, Lancashire County Council’s Wellbeing and Early Help Service for BME Youth Work in the Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Preston area.

The project, which has been well received, aims to bring together young people of all communities using snooker in line with the Foundation’s objectives.

It aims to support the all-round development of participants, their application of maths skills, and develops relationships with other people.

The Foundation targets both able bodied and disadvantaged children equally and also aims to increase their self-esteem and teach responsibility of contributing to society in a positive manner.

A 15-week programme in each area has been led and delivered by a team of NLTG staff and teachers from St Augustine’s RC High School in Billington.

As well as competitive prizes, every young person has received a snooker cue and case personally signed to them by Steve.

Police, drugs awareness and sexual health teams have been on hand for the young people to access support where normally confidence issues may prevent this happening.

Davis has supported the Paul Hunter Foundation for many years alongside organiser Chris Lovell from the North Lancs Training Group.

“It was a fantastic few days, bringing these young people together and visiting some of the most successful projects the Paul Hunter Foundation has undertaken and so valuable in these troubled times,” said Davis.

“It’s fascinating to see that when we create what in essence are temporary snooker clubs for 15 weeks that young people who would normally be hanging about on street corners and potentially getting themselves into trouble which could blight their early adult life are brought together mixing playing snooker, I’m sure Paul would be very proud.”

A total of 50 young people from the project have been invited to the UK Championships in York by World Snooker at the end of the month.