Almost 170,000 young people have received workshops on reducing knife crime and violence, delivered by individuals with firsthand experience of violence themselves.
The established initiative, Precious Lives, brings together people who have navigated challenging circumstances, including exposure to crime, exploitation, and violence. Having reflected on their pasts and chosen different paths, they now use their experiences as a force for positive change.
The workshops are delivered in schools and education settings, speaking directly to children and creating a rare and important space for open conversations and learning.
Sessions are carefully structured to be both engaging and thought-provoking. They include personal testimonies, open discussions and opportunities for students to ask questions in a safe, respectful environment.
The team promotes dialogue, encouraging young people to reflect on peer pressure, identity, belonging, and the influences shaping their decisions.
The Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster said: “When young people hear from someone who is drawing on their own real-life experience, they are often more likely to actively listen and potentially relate.
“The consequences of violence begin to feel more real and young people get a glimpse into what the harsh realities of violence really are.
“This however is followed up by highlighting routes away from a life of violence to ensure young people are aware there are alternatives and a way out.”
Facilitators share how they moved away from harmful environments and behaviours to reinforce the idea that no one is defined solely by their past.
The programme is co-ordinated by the Violence Reduction Partnership, through the West Midlands Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
