Anti-knife crime project are face of local Crimestoppers
Young people involved in an anti-knife crime project in Rugby have been signed up to champion Crimestoppers in Warwickshire.
The group of 8 to 13-year-olds from the Street Ikons Community dance project, along with rappers Streetz R Watchin – both managed by Warwickshire County Council’s Positive about Young People programme, and based at the Brownsover, Benn and Whitnash PODS – visit schools and businesses countywide to highlight ‘gang culture’ and the devastating affects of knife crime, through song and dance.
They were asked to become the charity’s local representative following a performance at the Warwickshire Crimestoppers board meeting in Leek Wooten (Tuesday 8 December).
Patrick Carroll, Project Leader for Warwickshire County Council’s Positive about Young People programme, said: “The Street Ikons project has gone from strength-to-strength since it began in 2008, so we are incredibly proud to be the local representatives for Crimestoppers.”
Michael Maguire, Head of Positive about Young People and Chair of Warwickshire Crimestoppers, said: “The young people were asked to represent Crimestoppers locally because of their creativity and sheer determination to share their message with the communities in Warwickshire.
“The board have been very impressed with the groups achievements in the last 18 months and felt they would use the same flair to raise awareness of Crimestoppers locally.”
It has been a busy few months for the Street Ikons and Whitnash-based Streetz R Watchin – in the last few weeks alone, they have performed at the annual Dickens Night Festival in Atherstone, and Street Ikons just missed out on a short-listing for the Philip Lawrence Awards, which recognises outstanding good citizenships in young people.
Warwickshire Crimebeat is continually looking for groups of young people to apply for funding. For more information contact Patrick Carroll, Project Leader, on 02476 754174 or email patrickcarroll@warwickshire.gov.uk.
To find out more information about Warwickshire County Council’s Positive about Young People programme or Warwickshire Crimebeat, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/payp.