A Birmingham based poet, Tyran Gardiner is using poetry to warn young people of the dangers of carrying weapons as part of a project aimed at reducing violence in Birmingham City Centre.
Tyran and his team use spoken word to emphasise the catastrophic impact a violent lifestyle can have on victims, perpetrators and those around them.
His organisation, Rhymes Over Crimes is working with the West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership as part of a wider national project aiming to reduce violence in areas where there are high rates of it.
Gardiner is working to raise awareness around gang culture and violent crime by combining poetry, art and education.
They use creative methods in their performances at school assembles, universities, youth centres and community events to start these conversations with young people.
“Always remember ‘Knives belong in your kitchen drawer, not on your person, for petty street war!’”, says Gardiner as part of his performance.
They create a safe space for young people to talk about their concerns, at times confiding in workshop leads about their experiences of violence.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster said: “Poetry and art can be incredibly powerful tools for bringing to life some of the more difficult conversations we may struggle to find the right words for.
“Rhymes over Crimes draw on real human experiences and raw emotions to put together artistic performances which connect us to one another.
“They remind us that we all want a future where our communities are safe and thriving and we have the opportunity to fulfil our potential.”
