On Wednesday 18 August the Brixton Summer Project held at Loughborough Primary School Minet Road, Brixton welcomed the former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella who is now a prominent anti-knife crime campaigner to see the project in action. During her visit Ms Kinsella also observed a presentation regarding the ‘Growing Against Gangs’ programme. This educational initiative explores the issues around ‘youth gang culture’.
Now in its twenty-third year, the Lambeth Summer Projects has seen success with the numbers of children attending from across the borough increasing every year.
This year the project has seen over 750 young people aged from nine to sixteen years take part in the four week programme held at four school sites within Lambeth that have been kept open and managed by Lambeth borough Police Safer Schools Officers in partnership with Police Community Support Officers, Lambeth’s Local Authority youth workers and community volunteers.
Over 600 separate activity sessions have taken place including sports, outside visits and workshops and is the largest crime diversion scheme within the borough that encourages a positive relationship with young people, the community and the police.
Since the tragic murder of her brother Ben Kinsella, Brooke has tirelessly campaigned against knife crime and led various marches and supported numerous government initiatives.
Today she visits the Brixton Project as the start of a series of visits to youth projects across the country in support for her anti-knife crime message and her role in advising the government of what young people think and how best to communicate an effective message to the minority of people who engage in carrying knives and youth violence to change their behaviour and deter them from carrying offensive weapons that would lead to reducing the number young lives lost to youth violence.
Chief Inspector Patrick Beynon of Lambeth Safer Neighbourhoods said: “Our work with the local authority and other partners have ensured the success of this project for positive activities for young people”.
Without this project some of the young people involved could become victims or perpetrators of crime and anti-social behaviour. “
For more information about the Lambeth Summer Projects please visit www.LambethSummerProjects.co.uk.
