Please help us fund our knife crime awareness programme in local schools by donating here.
Since 2016, the New Cross Gate Trust has been spearheading a vital knife crime awareness project called “Lives Not Knives” aimed at year 6 children in local primary schools. This initiative serves as a crucial part of their transition and preparation for secondary school, spanning a comprehensive two-day programme per Year 6 class. For double form entry schools, our involvement extends to a total of four days.
This initiative was born out of tragedy, following the fatal stabbing of local youth Myron Yarde, also known as Mdot, in 2016. Regrettably, fatal stabbings have continued to plague the borough and London as a whole since then.
Knife crime in London has seen a worrisome increase of over 20% in the past year, a trend that has persisted since the onset of the pandemic, with many incidents involving youth.
Our objective is clear: to educate Year 6 children about the perils of carrying knives, enlightening them about the costs and consequences associated with such actions. We aim to arm them with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions and to stay safe, challenging misconceptions such as the notion that carrying a knife provides protection. Additionally, we incorporate elements of first aid into our workshops, providing all children with practical experience in dealing with serious bleeding incidents.
Our ultimate goal is for children to leave the programme equipped with factual knowledge about knife crime, capable of offering support and advice to their peers, and confidently able to address serious bleeding situations.
The cost per school for this invaluable programme is £1440. We are determined to raise enough funds to extend this initiative to four local primary schools this July. Can you lend your support and help us make a real difference?