Join us for #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek
15th to 21st May 2023
Everyone must understand the problem of knife crime, because everyone has a personal responsibility to tackle it. #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek highlights the complexity of the problem, the devastation that it causes to families and communities and ultimately that knife crime is preventable.
You can take action. By educating others, making a pledge, sharing your story or fundraising; you can be the change needed in our society.
Join us in our quest to #StopKnifeCrime
Get involved!
Monday ↓
The tragedy in numbers
Knife crime is out of control. Raise awareness; tell the people who need to know.
Tuesday ↓
Real stories, real people
Knife crime affects real people and real lives. Raise awareness; share your story.
Wednesday ↓
Prevention through education
Have a conversation with your child or run a lesson with young people. Knife crime is preventable.
Thursday ↓
Make your pledge
Make your personal pledge to never carry a knife and to take responsibility to tackle knife crime. Pledge as an individual or a as a school or organisation!
Friday ↓
Fundraise to #StopKnifeCrime
You can make a difference. Donate or fundraise to support our mission to end knife violence. Every contribution counts.
Saturday & Sunday ↓
Keep the momentum
Choose an action from any day and keep up the momentum! Can you fundraise? Can you share your story?
MONDAY
THE TRAGEDY IN NUMBERS
In the 12 months leading up to March 2022, 99 young people under 25 were murdered with a knife or sharp object. 13 of them were under 16.
Knife crime has increased by 46% since 10 years ago. It is as high now as it ever has been.
It doesn’t stop there. There are many more statistics that paint the picture of how knife crime is ravaging the lives of young people and their families across the United Kingdom.
It’s time for change.
Today - Monday - for #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek, we are raising awareness of the devastating crime that is destroying families across the country every year.
For all: Share these statistics with people that matter – people that can help to influence change in the numbers.
- Write to your MP and raise your concerns
- Share statistics on social media under the tag #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek
For teachers and practitioners:
- Increase parents' understanding of knife crime by sharing key statistics in a parents newsletter, and let them know you are engaging in #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek
- Share statistics on social media under the tag #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek
TUESDAY
REAL STORIES, REAL PEOPLE
Fifteen years ago, on 29th June, 2008, 16 year old Ben Kinsella was stabbed to death.
It doesn’t end with Ben. He was the 17th teenager to be murdered that year, in what would go on to be a record year for teenage homicide in London at that time.
Other children, like Champion Ganda, Jodie Chesney, Duran Kajiama, Olly Stephens, and Abdul Aziz Ansari all lost their lives to knife crime. Since Ben's death, there have been over 1000 more.
It’s time for change.
Today - Tuesday - for #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek we are continuing to raise awareness. Knife crime doesn’t discriminate. Age, gender, race, school performance, friends, or family don’t make a difference.
Share the stories of those who have been impacted by knife crime.
For all: Share the true stories of someone who has been impacted by knife crime on social media under the tag #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek. We have many true stories which you can share, or (with permission) share stories of others who have been impacted.
For schools:
- Run an assembly where you focus on the story of one young person who has been impacted by knife crime. Download our knife crime awareness assembly.
- Alternatively, we have many true stories which you can share, or (with permission) share stories of others who have been impacted.
For parents and carers: We are holding a free parents workshop which starts on Tuesday 16th May. Sign up here!
WEDNESDAY
PREVENTION THROUGH EDUCATION
Education is fundamental to stopping knife crime.
We have a wide variety of free resources for parents, young people, and teachers and practitioners to educate everyone about knife crime and its impact.
It’s time for change.
Let’s do that by educating ourselves as much as possible.
For all:
- Open up a conversation about knife crime with a young person. See our guide to knife harm to understand the facts so that you feel more confident when talking to your child about knife harm.
For teachers and practitioners:
- Explore the real, lived experience of people affected by knife crime and youth violence with your class. Our PSHE lesson plans are designed for KS2, KS3, and KS4 and include all the worksheets, activities, and videos that you need to run a successful lesson.
- Take part in one of our award-winning anti-knife crime workshops to educate young people about knife crime, and how to make positive choices to stay safe.
THURSDAY
MAKE YOUR PLEDGE
Make a personal pledge that you’ll do your part in stopping knife crime - take a pledge as an individual or as an organisation.
It’s time for change.
For all: Share your pledge on social media with other parents to spread the message.
For schools: Ask your pupils to sign a pledge to never carry a knife and to act responsibly and appropriately if they know of knife carrying in their peer groups. Pupils can sign as individuals or as a class. Share your class pledge to social media under the tag #KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek to spread the message!
Together, we can stop knife crime.
FRIDAY
FUNDRAISE TO #STOPKNIFECRIME
Fundraise to help us stop knife crime.
It’s time for change.
For all: Make a donation or run a coffee morning, a sponsored walk or fundraise in your own way to help us to #StopKnifeCrime.
For schools: Run a mufty day for the Ben Kinsella Trust, or fundraise in other meaningful ways.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
KEEP THE MOMENTUM
#KnifeCrimeAwarenessWeek is about exactly that - raising awareness for the devastating impacts of knife crime. But it’s not too late to reverse the trend and keep our children safe. Together, we can stop knife crime.
It’s time for change.
Keep up the momentum of raising awareness, educating others, and making a difference to the lives of our children and young people.
You can read the stories of those affected by knife crime, help us to raise funds, get free resources, take part in challenge events, and for corporations, you can support us with a corporate partnership.
