Students produce powerful film to help tackle knife crime

Young people from Bury Youth Service have produced a powerful short film highlighting the dangers of knife crime.

The film will be made available to students who are educated at home as well as in schools in Bury.

Announced at a special event for elective home educators, ‘A Knife is a Life’ was created in response to the national “Make Your Mark” survey where young people aged 11-19 identified knife crime as their top concern.

Bury Youth Service secured funding from the Violence Reduction Unit to make the film and produce an accompanying lesson resource which will be available to schools and services across the borough. They collaborated with Breaking Barriers Production Company, The Elton High School, The Derby High School and Hazlewood High School, in consultation with representatives from the police, health and VCSE sector.

Councillor Lucy Smith, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We are very proud of our young people who have worked collaboratively with schools and the Breaking Barriers Production Company for more than 12 months to create the script and produce the video from start to finish.  

“They have made a powerful film and lesson resource which directly and meaningfully address the issues that are important to them.

“We are pleased to be able to raise awareness of this excellent resource at our elective home education event, so that all of the young people in Bury have access to the same information about the dangers of knife crime.”

Some 361 young people in Bury are home-educated. The busy event, which was held at the Elizabethan Suite, provided access to multi-agency support for these young people and their families. Attendees were able to connect with partners such as the GM fire service, library service, Connexions, Bury College, Holy Cross College, NHS, Early Break, Bury MET, and Purple Mash, an education resource for families.

For more information about resources for elective home educators, please email ehe@bury.gov.uk or call 0161 253 6972.

ENDS