In late November, the Community Trust’s Premier League Kicks site in Lea Manor hosted a visit from funding and delivery partners as part of a Bedfordshire Police’s Operation Sceptre event.

As well as the weekly football, our participants were involved in a workshop around knife crime awareness and how to develop resilience to the ‘push and pull’ factors that draw some young people into knife crime.

Visiting partners included Luton Council’s Safety Partnership Team, Bedfordshire’s Violence and Exploitation Prevention Partnership along with FazAmnesty and members from Street Fathers & Mothers. The aim of the visit was to promote safe spaces for local young people and introduce the above organisations to them.

Faron Paul runs FazAmnesty and is part of the National Knife Crime Coalition chaired by the Prime Minister. Faz was stabbed 18 times in two separate attacks and now engages with young people in the spaces where they are and encourages them to think before they act with regards to carrying and using weapons. FazAmnesty also brought their mobile weapons amnesty bin to Marsh Farm for the afternoon to accommodate any anonymous hand ins of weapons.

StreetFathers & Mothers are a group of volunteers in a community led initiative, engaging on the streets with young people and diverting them to activities such as our Premier League Kicks sessions.

Philip Hilaire-Moore, Programmes Manager for Health & Community, said: “We’re proud that Luton Town FC Community Trust hosted this partnership intent on making a positive difference to young people's lives in our communities.

“Premier League Kicks uses the power of football and sport to inspire young people to reach their potential. The programme creates opportunities for young people who are at risk of anti-social behaviour, youth violence and/or from high-need areas to regularly engage in football, sport, mentoring and personal development opportunities.”

To find out more about our Premier League Kicks sessions, please email [email protected].