Raheem Sterling Foundation backs knife amnesty initiative

LONDON:

A landmark community project endorsed by Jamaica-born England footballer Raheem Sterling and funded by the Raheem Sterling Foundation has been launched with the aim being to “transform communities, provide positive opportunities for young people and combat knife crime in the north London borough of Brent”, a release from the organisation shared.

Created in collaboration with Brent Council and the Metropolitan Police, #TheBoyFromBrentcampaign has been launched by the unveiling of amnesty knife bins across the borough and a range of community partnerships designed to help bring about a positive change in communities.

As part of the launch event, seven branded knife bins will be strategically placed around key areas in Brent, each bearing a specific message from Raheem Sterling and displaying information, support, and guidance from Raheem Sterling Foundation partners. Each call to action is aligned with one of the foundation’s Power of 7 objectives: social mobility, employment, education, community, creativity, leadership, and enterprise.

The foundation said it was committed to providing a robust youth-engagement intervention to reduce knife crime figures in Brent, detailing that knife crime rose by seven per cent last year, with 549 incidents recorded in 2023. By providing access to organisations that can provide support systems for at-risk young people, the project aims to help young people strive for better opportunities and overcome barriers they may face in their lives.

Commenting on the partnership, Raheem Sterling said: “I want this project to make a real difference to young people in Brent by guiding them to take positive actions and have better access to a powerful support network of opportunities.

“Growing up in Brent, I understand the challenges that young people experience every day. I truly hope our work enables change, and I’m grateful to all our partners and the organisations supporting us to help improve the lives and increase opportunities for young people.”

ROAD MAP OF OPPORTUNITY

Clive Ellington, chair of trustees, added: ‘’At the Raheem Sterling Foundation, we believe that all young people, regardless of their background, should have access to support and guidance as they pursue opportunities to improve their future careers and quality of life. It’s this vision that drives the foundation and we are dedicated to breaking down barriers to success, helping young people find their voice and realise the power of their potential as they make their mark on the world.

“The foundation’s project in Brent will open up new opportunities for communities to come together and tackle the issues in knife crime collectively while providing practical ways to open up a roadmap of opportunity for young people.”

Alongside information, support, and guidance on the bins, people can also scan a QR code. This takes users to a website signposting them to support to help people move away from knife crime and connect them to a more positive path, including mentoring opportunities or getting into work.

Speaking on behalf of the council, Councillor Harbi Farah, Cabinet member for safer communities and public protection, said: “We are proud to be working with Raheem Sterling and Word 4 Weapons to install these lifesaving amnesty bins, the first of their kind in Brent, and will continue to work with our partners to raise awareness of where they are located and the support available for those affected by knife crime.

“Sadly, knife crime exists across all towns and cities in the UK, and Brent is not immune to this. Every knife taken off our streets is potentially a life saved. If these bins help one person to change their behaviour, it will make our community safer.”