The national memorial to victims of knife crime, The Knife Angel, shines a unique focus in Milton Keynes on the active stance the business community and charity Action4Youth are taking in combating crime.
The 100,000-knife national monument launched a month of events against violence, but Action4Youth is spearheading long-term partnerships with business organisations, young people, schools and police to tackle knife and gang crime in MK.
Together they enable Breakout, an effective, hard-hitting 12-week, anti-knife and gang programme, for 12 to 16-year-olds. Business community sponsorship enables the charity to support schools and communities by giving as many young people as possible at risk of being sucked into crime, the chance to go through the programme.
Breakout was developed by Action4Youth in February 2020 in response to a rise in knife crime. The pilot was funded by Thames Valley Police. The resulting programme shows young people the personal horrors of crime through personal experiences and explores alternative choices. Through mentoring and adventure education at Action4Youth’s unique Caldecotte Xperience, Breakout challenges perceptions, developing confidence and personal resolve.
Schools say Breakout is essential in supporting young people at risk and helping them re-engage with education. Students from Hazeley Academy, Shenley Brook End, Bridge Academy and Central have benefited so far thanks to business sponsorship.
The programme is being made possible for groups of young people in Milton Keynes thanks to generous funding from partners such as NHBC, MyMiltonKeynes, Paradigm Housing Group and Milton Keynes Community Foundation. Charitable trusts such as the Peter Harrison Foundation have also made the programme available to schools.
Action4Youth CEO Jenifer Cameron said:
“Business partners are invaluable to our essential work with young people. Together we are delighted to enable a successful series of programmes that inspire, challenge and support young people in Milton Keynes to achieve their potential. Breakout is one of our initiatives that is particularly valuable in crime prevention. We know there are many young people and their communities needing our help. Our corporate partners help us to work with as many young people as possible.”
MyMiltonKeynes has funded Breakout as part of its Safe City strategy. Melanie J Beck MBE, Chief Executive at MyMiltonKeynes met some of the young people on the programme. She explained their funding looked to the future: “While providing a safe place to work and live, it is vital that we create provisions to ensure that our young people have the motivation and belief in themselves which will help them become productive and happy members of our society.”
Before Breakout Kelvina (14), thought knife crime exciting, but not now:
“It’s not fun. It’s a reality, it’s not a joke.” Macy (15), whose brother was in a gang, says Breakout has helped her work towards a positive future: “I used to think that it was all cool to hang out with people who were doing drugs and getting themselves into gangs, but now I realise that it does mess with your head and affects your family, and getting a good job.”
NHBC supports Breakout as part of its Our Communities initiative. Strategy and Change Manager Toni Archer said: “I think it’s a really important initiative. It gives young people that are on the edge of knife crime new skills and new opportunities and helps them make more positive decisions.”
Sir Francis Hapgood, the former Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police is also an ambassador for Action4Youth. He met young people and sponsors of Breakout at the Knife Angel and took the opportunity to underline the importance and courage of business in working with Action4Youth to combat crime:
“It’s really important that we have these sponsors who are investing in things outside their normal areas of business. Without their sponsorship, without their support these things would not happen and it’s so important that we engage and have that wider conversation. They then spread the word to other businesses and that is beneficial.”
A further 11 funded programmes are booked for Milton Keynes in early 2023, but the opportunity exists to support more young people, more schools and more communities to Breakout from crime.
To get involved in supporting this positive initiative contact office@Action4Youth.org or click here.
