Since FKCL’s foundation on June 1st 2021, we have been supported in aspects of our administration by CATCH 22, the well-known not-for-profit business with a social mission. They have held our funds separately and responded with generosity whenever we needed advice. We have also been able to avail ourselves of their charitable status through this relationship. For me, this has been invaluable.
Although we have always functioned quite separately, FKCL worked with Catch 22 at the invitation of their previous CEO, Chris Wright, who had great faith in our project, and recognised its need. Ever since Chris moved on,and passed the baton to Naomi Hulston, we have continued with this fruitful relationship. Since March 2024 we have been an independent charity and it is only right that we now have our own direct banking arrangements, which we now hold at the Charities Aid Foundation Bank (CAFBANK).
Joe Raby, assistant director of Justice at Catch 22, remains a trustee of FKCL, so there is no chance that these fruitful aspects of our previous relationship will completely lapse. This is the moment however to say thank you to all at Catch 22 who have helped us.
Further news
This has been an eventful quarter.
I have had the chance to visit several schools across London, as well as Sheffield Hallam University who have long supported our work. I have also been in conversation with the Director of Cleveland VRU who is keen to bring something resembling our model to his own region of responsibility. A ball has started rolling here, so let’s see where it leads. I have given interviews on national media, as well as being speaker at the recent “Tackling Knife Crime” June conference in London run by Westminster Insight. FKCL has been increasingly encouraged by correspondents seeking advice and help, and we have had the satisfaction of being able, not only to direct them to our own resources, but, by speaking to them, we have been able to improve the outreach and collaborative resources we offer. Most pleasurable of all perhaps has been the opportunities, particularly at events, that I have had to meet the real heroes who work directly helping young people in so many different ways across London, and by this work, changing their lives for the better.
This Edition
Our 16th Edition continues the tradition we have now established. This is not a standard newsletter, but an informative repository of academic (and a new word for me – pracademic) research, new experience and success stories from those who know best how to empower young people and help improve young lives. Sound evidence to support everything that these experts write about is to be found here, as our regular subscribers have discovered.
If you wish to subscribe, it is free (as everything we do is) and you can do it here.
First, Kat Agar, the Chief Executive Officer of Oasis Community Partnerships, the youth and communities’ function of Oasis, gives an inspiring picture of transformative change. Oasis’ experience is vast. Amongst other projects, Oasis runs 54 schools, 23 community hubs, housing projects, youth work, specialist mentoring, and the UK’s first secure school, Oasis Restore.
Next, former Det. Supt. Lorraine Hilder, former lead for the Met on Child Exploitation and Missing Persons, brings her considerable academic and practical policing experience to this very considerable and topical issue. She was recognised in the latest HMICFRS report for her leading role in improving the Met’s response to the sexual and criminal exploitation of children, which helped to take the Met out of special measures. Having just retired after 34 years in the Met, she moves soon to a very similar role overseas. We wish her very well in this role. They are the lucky ones.
Our third contribution, from David Kingsley of Criminology Services, casts a detailed academic light on the evolution of gangs, technology and brings us up to date on some of the work being done in this area. As he writes “If we truly want to fight knife crime, we must listen harder, intervene earlier, and care deeper”.
Our fourth piece is from Rukanah Mogra of the Muslim Council of Britain. London’s Muslim communities have not been untouched by the devastating impact of knife crime – with families, youth groups, and places of worship all grappling with its consequences. He gives us an informative and national perspective on the work being done by Mosques all over the country to help young Muslims avoid getting involved with gangs and violence and make better lives for themselves.
Staying with the theme of gangs, Anna Mbwese of Shine AI who is launching a new platform to help people find careers and give meaning to their lives. As she says ‘…we can show young people that a financially sustainable life is possible, regardless of where they start…”. This is one to follow with interest and is much needed. It also offers an opportunity for collaboration across London with other organisations who are motivating young people to find employment.
Our final piece comes from Leroy Nicholas of Sweet Science Foundation who has over 20 years experience with young people in schools, Youth Offending Teams and Pupil Referral Units. In 2023, he now works with Sweet Science Foundation. They use non-contact boxing to do three things: get young people’s Attention, earn their Respect and win their Trust. It’s an inspiring story.
Bruce Houlder, Founder of Fighting Knife Crime London (FKCL)
www.fightingknifecrime.london
