The Jumble Sale is now closed, we’ve had a cracking day and made a decent chunk of change towards Harmony’s good work
While it was a wonderful success, we’ve still got quite a bit of stuff left to sell. With that in mind we are going to be continuing the jumble until the end of next week (2nd May) so if you want to grab a bargain and support a local charity, come on down!
Thank you so much to everyone who came by, those who brought items and those who just came by to have a look and say Hello, you were all so lovely
This Christmas, thanks to some wonderful funding, we’ve been able to provide our community with 20 Christmas food hampers!
Plus with donations from our community and Lidl customers we’ve been able to share over 30 brand new toys for all the children of families collecting We’re so unbelievably grateful for everything our community has given, shared and donated these last few weeks and can’t believe we’re not even done yet!
The increase in knife crime among youth in the UK has become a pressing concern. Factors such as poverty, social exclusion, gang involvement, and lack of opportunities contribute to this rise. Young people often carry knives for perceived self-protection or status, but this exacerbates violence. Urban areas, particularly in cities like London, see the highest rates. Government initiatives, such as increased policing, awareness campaigns, and youth intervention programmes, aim to tackle the issue. However, addressing the root causesโpoverty, education, and community supportโremains crucial for long-term solutions.
At Harmony, we take the issue of knife crime very seriously, as it directly impacts the safety and wellbeing of young people in our community. Sadly, we have observed a concerning rise in knife-related incidents within our local borough, reflecting a broader national trend.
In response, we recently hosted a think tank evening that brought together prominent individuals deeply committed to tackling this critical issue. This gathering served as a platform for sharing insights, experiences, and ideas. It allowed diverse voicesโfrom community leaders to youth advocatesโto collaboratively explore practical actions that could address both the violence itself and its underlying causes.
The discussions emphasised the importance of prevention through education, community engagement, and support for young people at risk. Together, we aim to develop strategies that not only reduce knife crime but also foster a culture of nonviolence, understanding, and opportunity for youth in our borough. This event marked the beginning of a unified effort to tackle knife crime and its root causes head-on.
Our event and overarching mission are driven by Harmonyโs Founder, Mr. Charlie Barrett, whose extensive experience in youth work spans over 20 years. Mr. Barrett has dedicated his career to addressing the challenges faced by young people, making it his personal mission to combat anti-social behaviour and, in particular, knife crime.
Under his leadership, Harmony remains committed to creating safe, supportive spaces for young people while working tirelessly to tackle the root causes of violence. Through education, mentorship, and community initiatives, Mr. Barrett and the Harmony team strive to empower youth, reduce harm, and promote a future free from the shadow of knife crime.
This briefing looks at statistics on knife crime in England and Wales. It uses police recorded crime data to evaluate trends over time and to compare knife crime between police force areas, with a section focussing specifically on knife crime in London. Sentencing statistics are also used to look at outcomes of proven posession offences. The final section of this briefing examines NHS hospital data to supplement police and court data.
Police Recorded Crime
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on crimes recorded by police involving a knife or sharp instrument for a selection of serious violent offences.
In the year ending March 2023, there were around 50,500 offences involving a sharp instrument in England and Wales (excluding Devon & Cornwall). This was 4.7% higher than in 2021/22 but 7% lower than in 2019/20.
Police and courts crime data depends on offences being reported to the authorities, which is a weakness. To get a more rounded view on knife crime it is useful to supplement this information with alternative sources such as NHS hospital data.Data from NHS Digital shows there were 3,775 โhospital episodesโ recorded in English hospitals in 2022/23 due to assault by a sharp object. This was a 9.5% decrease compared to 2021/22, and a 3.6% increase compared to 2014/15.
Here at Harmony, we do everything we can to support our community in any way we can. This often means lending a listening ear and referring those most in need to the right services. There’s no reason to struggle alone, we’re in this together ๐
Our second and final Halloween activity day was smashing! ๐ (No pumpkins were harmed or smashed for the purpose of this pun ๐คฃ) We had some wonderful children in for pumpkin carving, mummy wrapping, monster designing and so much more! ๐ป๐งก Thank you so much to all the children, staff and wonderful volunteers for making this Halloween extra spooky and extra special ๐๐งก
The first of our 2 days of Halloween club is done and we’ve had a blast! The children have made monster masks, decorated ornaments, danced until they couldn’t anymore and decorated lots and lots of biscuits! ๐ The children had such a good time showing their creativity and enjoying these sweet treats ๐ป๐คฉ
Note: I forgot to add the address and ages to the previous poster so please make note of those in this updated one ๐
Get ready for two days of spooktacular fun! We’re excited to offer an amazing experience filled with creative crafts, thrilling games, artistic pumpkin designing, and much more!
๐ When: Tuesday, October 29th & Thursday, October 31st ๐ Time: 10 AM – 2 PM
Donโt miss out on this enchanting Halloween adventure! Bring your friends and unleash your creativity. Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today! ๐ป
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