Staff at The Salvation Army are working with police to lift awareness amongst secondary school students concerning the risks of knife crime and addiction.
It recently held a football tournament in association with Essex Police, The Children’s Society and Crimestoppers. As well as two separate football tournaments – one for boys and one for women – students were capable of attend various workshops and quizzes about knife crime and drug addiction.
Yassir Mohammed, The Salvation Army’s Addiction Development Officer for London and The South East, helped run the event.
“I even have experience of growing up in an impoverished community where I even have survived gang culture and this gave me first-hand insight into how easily young people might be exploited and drawn in,” he said.
“I saw how this often results in a cycle that features violence, drug use and drug dealing and the way quickly it may possibly escalate.”
Mohammed spoke of the hazards of young people being ensnared by county lines drug gangs and said he was glad to work with the police and other organisations to maintain young people informed concerning the dangers they could face.
“I desired to empower students to make positive life decisions and know where to show to for support,” he said.
“We got here with a display of a few of the drugs and knives they may encounter because of Essex Police who provided the actual items making it really impactful exhibit.”
Also on the event was PC James Draper, a Community Safety Engagement Officer for Braintree and Uttlesford. PC Draper said he hoped the event would help break down barriers between young people and the police.
“We use organisations like The Salvation Army and other support services to get people the support they need so that they don’t come into contact with people like me,” he said.
He added that The Salvation Army “are only one among our good caring community practitioners who need to support people”.
He added, “You need that positivity and energy especially when you find yourself working with young people”.
 Staff at The Salvation Army are working with police...){kind=link}