Knife Crime Awareness Week

Knife Crime Awareness Week is an annual campaign created by the Ben Kinsella Trust. Taking place from the 18 – 24 May, the week brings communities, schools, families and organisations across the country into a shared effort to educate, raise awareness and protect young lives.

By starting honest conversations, sharing trusted resources and shining a light on the work that is already making a difference, the campaign shows that knife crime is not inevitable – and that lasting change is possible when we act together.

These free resources are perfect for Knife Crime Awareness Week, but they are designed to be used all year round.

General Resources

Along with information on the law and legislation, these resources encourage young people to consider why someone might carry a knife, rather than increasing the fear that knives are everywhere.

Resources for Parents and Carers

News stories and social media can influence how safe we feel our children are and the risks they may face in today’s world. It can be extremely worrying to think your child may be affected by knife crime and violence.

The below resources teach parents and carers practical skills, including tips on how to have supportive conversations about the risks of carrying a knife.

Resources for Schools and Educational Settings

Pol-Ed is an education programme written by teachers for teachers. Its purpose is to keep children safe by developing their understanding of risks, consequences and the law, and to develop their resilience and ability to help and support each other.

The Pol-Ed team has created themed lessons to support teaching about dangerous weapons and knife crime. From year 7 to post-16, the high-quality materials are tailored for each age group. Their resources are free for all schools, education settings and community groups in the Humber region.

Not In Our Community has also developed a free educational package to show young people how to spot the warning signs among friends, facts about weapons and knives and where to get help. Aimed at those who want to address misconceptions and myths about carrying knives with young people, the resources include lesson plans and interactive presentations.

Resources for Practitioners

These tools were designed to help practitioners have meaningful conversations with young people about knife crime. They include information on the law regarding knives and offensive weapons, along with activities to help you prepare for a workshop led by a facilitator (either online or in person).

The documents are available free of charge and are not to be used for commercial purposes.