Knife crime ‘Young people need a place to feel part of a community’
ATEENAGER who was caught carrying a knife says that people his age are “unable to get help”, which makes them fall into crime and commit anti-social behaviour.
The young person, who spoke to the Post with anonymity, was referred to boxing charity Empire Fighting Chance several months ago and has since turned his life around.
Justice Saini, who last week sentenced three boys over the fatal stabbing of Kingswood teenager Mikey Roynon at a birthday party last year, said that Bristol and the surrounding areas are “in the middle of a plague of knife crime”. The elder brother of Eddie Kinuthia, a 19-year-old who died after being stabbed in July, said that “knife crime is like a flower, there are many issues which contribute”.
Speaking to the Post, the teen caught carrying a knife said he believes that one of the biggest issues facing young people is school and getting into trouble. He says that when schools give up on some pupils, they can often fall into a bad pathway.
He said: “There are lots of issues that affect young people and I believe the impact schools have can be a big factor in those who get into trouble. When young people get suspended or expelled, they end up doing nothing and when they get bored you’ll get into trouble.
“I think young people do not get treated in the right way, and when they need help they feel unable to get help. Young people don’t look into it and they don’t know that help is there.”
The teen was referred to Empire Fighting Chance after getting into
trouble for carrying a knife, and since then his life has changed for the better. He says that the boxing gym offers more than just a class to keep fit.
“Empire helps me to keep my mind off bad things and everything has improved since,” he added. “The community gave me a chance and it makes me feel great both physically and in myself.
“The staff and community here are nice and provide everything you need and treat you with care, and it makes me feel like I matter. Empire is so welcoming.
“It’s had a big impact on my behaviour and now I know I will not do anything stupid. I feel like young people need more opportunities and need a place to feel like part of the community. It has helped me big time.”
His situation is not an uncommon one, sadly, as knife crime continues to make headlines here in Bristol and across the UK. Many young people are becoming more isolated as youth clubs feel the strain from financial cuts.
The “Together for Change” campaign aims to address the causes of knife crime and to say enough is enough. The Post has united with other media organisations in Bristol alongside community leaders, charities and campaigners to create the campaign and make a difference.
Martin Bisp, the co-founder and chief executive of Empire, says that the boxing gym has been working with more and more young people as time goes on. Last year 3,400 young people worked with the gym network in Bristol and South Wales.
Martin said: “Services like these are under pressure and we have been picking up services on demand to make sure young people benefit. It is extraordinarily important for young people to have something like this.
“Empire is designed to let young people control their lives, programmes are designed to give young people what they need. It’s given people jobs, allowed some to go back to school, it changes lives.
“Young people need more empathy. Difficult circumstances force tough decisions and sometimes young people are forced to make those bad decisions.
“This is why there needs to be more equal opportunities for young people. When we can do that, we can give young people control of their own destiny.”