BRCT shows support against knife crime through ‘In Your Corner’

BRCT shows support against knife crime through ‘In Your Corner’

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, in partnership with We Are Noise, the Youth Justice Service, Community Safety and Lancashire Police, have raised awareness of knife crime through a local project called ‘In Your Corner.’

The project will also be delivered in a knife crime awareness package throughout secondary schools across Blackburn with Darwen. PCSO officer Gail Hyde came up with the idea for ‘In Your Corner’ after an increase in anti-social behaviour in Blackburn with Darwen.

“I had noticed a growing concern around the standards of behaviour from young people outside of school, causing anti-social behaviour. I noticed young people forming gangs and carrying blades and generally becoming disruptive in the community. This prompted me to set up a POP which is what the police do to solve problems in the community.”

Gail Hyde, officer at PCSO

PCSO Gail then spoke to different partners and fundraisers which eventually led to ‘In Your Corner’ being created with the aim of providing education and awareness workshops in schools.
Young people attending the group were tasked with creating an animation to highlight the issues of knife crime in October 2022. 

From putting a storyboard together, creating characters, writing a script, sketching a scene, and working with We Are Noise to record character voiceovers and produce their own music for the completed animation. The launch event for the animation was held on Tuesday 15th March 2023 at Ewood Park, the home of Blackburn Rovers. The animation was shown to the audience followed by a workshop on knife crime which was delivered to the parents and young people.

“It’s really important that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, and We Are Noise, who work in partnership directly, and it’s fantastic that everyone is coming together for such an important message. The young people felt like it was a very important topic that affects young people, not just in the area locally but nationally.”

Martin Radcliffe, general manager at ‘We Are Noise’ art charity

Discussions in the group took place about how knife crime has affected the group members individually and the group brought a lot of their own thoughts and feelings into the project. The group also reflected on the Knife Angel event which took place in Blackburn last year and group members drew upon their learning from the event and carried this forward into creating the script.”

“The number of kids carrying knives around, it’s getting too much so we thought we’d raise awareness in high schools. I play the main character Jack who has had problems with bullying, so his friend suggests a knife, but he doesn’t make the right choices, so it’s about the awareness of it.”

Ethan Woods, programme participant

“I think the project has been a rollercoaster but has been a successful journey, so thanks to all parties supporting one another. It was most successful mainly thanks to the young people at BRCT making it relevant to others their age. The project has been launched in Blackburn Central High School successfully.”

Katie Boulton, Community Safety Officer at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council