Young people from across Salford have created a documentary to combat knife crime in the city.
The film was commissioned by Great Places Housing Group in partnership with media production company, REELMCR. Young people were encouraged to get involved with all aspects of production, from interviews, sound, filming and editing.
The project was funded by Great Places and Equans and is aimed at young people aged 11+ to be used in schools and youth centres.
Whilst knife crime has reduced by nine per cent in 2022 when compared with the previous year, nationally the issue has since a 10% rise.
Great Places Housing Group is a profit-for-purpose business, which exists to improve the lives of the people living in their 25,000 homes across the North-West and South Yorkshire.
Alongside the film, Great Places is a partner of Project Gulf, with the two working together to fund six ‘bleed cabinets’ that have been installed across the city. Each contains a bleed control kit which can enable a member of the public to provide life-saving treatment in the event of a stabbing or any other bleed.
Simon Robinson, Director of Neighbourhoods at Great Places said: “Knife crime is a scourge on the streets of the nation. It ruins lives and decimates communities, which is why we are proud to play a part in combatting this awful crime.
“The young people who made the film have done a fantastic job and we hope that the bleed cabinets are never needed but could be used to save lives if necessary.”
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett followed: “In Salford, knife crime has fallen thanks to the extensive dedicated work of the Salford Community Safety Partnership and young people in the city – but the city is not complacent.
“Even one incident is one too many and we must keep doing all we can to raise awareness and tackle knife crime in our communities.
“Awareness about knife crime thanks to initiatives like this fantastic documentary really helps to spread the message that it is never appropriate to carry a knife on the streets.”
Kelly Brown, a Mum who became involved as a campaigner for bleed boxes following the death of her son, Rhamero West in 2021, added: “I am very happy to have been a part of this documentary to raise awareness of knife crime.”
16-year-old Rhamero ‘Mero’ West was attacked by a group of teenagers in Old Trafford in September of last year and later died in hospital. His mum, Ms Brown, started up the charity Mero’s World shortly thereafter. In a previous interview with SalfordNow, she said: “My Son bled to death from his legs. Had there been [a bleed kit] there to pack [the wounds] until the ambulance service got there then he might still be here today.”
Recent Comments