Furness Academy pupils learn about knife crime after serious incidents in Barrow

The initiative is aimed to educate young people about the effects that carrying a knife can have on potential victims, the perpetrator, families, medical staff, peer groups and the wider community.

The interactive programme was set up in May 2021 after several serious crime incidents in Barrow and concerns some young people felt the pressure to carry a knife as a means of protection.

48 Year 8 pupils from Furness Academy in Barrow have taken part in the pilot programme which is led by Cumbria County Council’s South Cumbria Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) and Drop Zone Youth Projects and is supported by Cumbria Police, Walney Community Trust, Child Centred Policing, Barrow Integrated Care Community (ICC) and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT).

Simon Laheney, headteacher at Furness Academy, said: “This project has really helped a number of young people understand the complex reasons that lead them to engage in knife crime and all too often with tragic consequences.

“If it results in one less tragic loss of life or better decisions being made by young people because of what they have learnt and understand then it already has been worth the effort that everyone involved has put it.

“Of course it will do much more than that and I for one am really grateful that our students were afforded the opportunity.”

Furness Academy head, Simon Laheney

The six-week pilot programme included:

· an introduction to historic local knife crime cases and the case of Kiyan Prince who was fatally stabbed outside the London Academy in Edgware, London on 18 May 2006

· a personal account from a local teacher from South Cumbria PRU, recounting his experience of losing a relative to a fatal stabbing and the effects on a family

· the opportunity for pupils to question police about how the cases they had learnt about would be dealt with legally

· a presentation from police around weapons, what knife crime is, the consequences, true and false interactive scenarios and a talk about the Knife Angel

· a session led by local Emergency Department nurses from UHMBT on the medical and physical impact of knife wounds, how it affects medical professionals and the long-term consequences of being stabbed

· an honest evaluation and feedback session

Jez Mark, lead engagement officer from South Cumbria Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), said: “South Cumbria PRU and Dropzone set up an educational project around knife crime as we were concerned at the number of young people making disclosures about carrying or allegedly carrying and there being a ‘pressure’ to carry on young people. We put together a six lesson programme that looked at the effects and consequences of knife crime from a number of perspectives including those directly affected victims’ families, police and the NHS.

“The project so far has received positive feedback from students, schools, parents and all professionals who are a part of it. This has created a high level of need from schools in the area, all of which have wanted a specific type of delivery which we have adapted to. We are also now working with primary schools to provide awareness sessions around knife crime. Since the project began in May we have worked directly with 600 young people and we have a request to work with many more."

Cath Corkhill, director of Drop Zone Youth Projects, said: "The Knife Angel has been such a positive piece of art to have in Barrow that has supported an extensive piece of education that's been/being delivered in local schools. The sculpture has provoked many conversations, some amazing photos and a really unequivocal response. Due to this we are continuing to develop the project and hope to have our own artwork created, with the support of Barra Culture, to begin an art/education, tour enabling our schools to request the installation and package to spend time within their establishments so we have a legacy of learning left by her visit."

The Knife Angel in Barrow

Maxine Baron, development lead for Barrow ICC, said: “The Knife Angel was erected outside Barrow Town Hall where it stood proudly in front of the magnificent town hall building.

“The Knife Angel encouraged reflection and empathy from our community for all of the knife crime victims that the sculpture honours and immortalizes. It is hoped the Knife Angel's arrival could improve awareness of the effects knife crime has, not only had on the victims and their families but the community as a whole. Well done to Cath from Drop Zone who has made this possible.”

The team driving forward the initiative is currently working with other secondary schools and primary schools in the Barrow area to deliver the project and was instrumental in securing funding for the Knife Angel to come to the town earlier this year.