OUR PARTNERS

A whole load of people are involved in making No Knives, Better Lives happen.

Inverclyde Council’s Community Learning & Development Youth Work Team

The Youth Work Team works with local young people on activities and awareness of key issues. They’ve worked with the Speak Up group on various No Knives, Better Lives events since day one.

Find out more here or call 01475 715450.

Young Scot

Rosebery House
9 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh
EH12 5EZ

http://www.youngscot.org/
0808 801 0338
infoline@youngscot.org

Young Scot has over 380,000 members across Scotland. The agency gives people aged 11-26 information and choices on everything from art to jobs to relationships.

Find out more here.

Medics Against Violence

Medics Against Violence (MAV) is a group of doctors who deal with the stark reality of the injuries caused by violence and knife crime. They hold workshops with young people and show their DVD ‘It’s your choice’ as part of the No Knives, Better Lives activity.

East End Arts Group

East End Arts Group perform their ‘It’s jist for protection’ drama production in schools as part of No Knives, Better Lives. Along with a workshop, it directly examines the issues around knife carrying.

Rob Yanders

The professional basketball player and captain of Scottish Rocks visits schools to tell his story of escaping from the ghettos of Chicago where he grew up amidst gangland violence.

Scottish Youth Parliament

Rosebery House
9 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh
EH12 5EZ

http://www.syp.org.uk/
0131 313 2488
info@scottishyouthparliament.org.uk

Speak Up Inverclyde

Caitlin Herton (16)

“Many of us know people who have been affected by knife crime and so we really want to do more to help tackle the problem in Inverclyde.  The No Knives campaign is a chance for us to help raise awareness of knife crime and the problems it causes – for knife carriers as well as their families, friends and the local community.

We're taking a stand to show that we want to make things better in our home towns, and we're asking our friends, families and people living here to do the same by pledging their support.”


Councillor Robert Moran
Convener of Safe, Sustainable Communities, Inverclyde Council:

"Inverclyde is glad to be at the forefront of this campaign. There is nothing to be gained from carrying a knife. At best you could be arrested and fined, or you could find yourself serving a life sentence for murder having taken someone's life.

We need to get the message across that it won't be tolerated in our society and we must educate people, especially the young, to think twice before carrying a knife."


Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan
Head of the Violence Reduction Unit:

"Violence, whenever it occurs and whatever form it takes, is abhorrent and will not be tolerated in 21st century Scotland. It's not just victims and offenders who are affected, it's families, cities, our economy and the reputation of our country. But the fact that we are tackling this wicked problem shows how great a country we are. We will need to do some brave things in the next few years, so that Scotland becomes a safer place for all our children.

The police in Scotland have been concerted in their efforts to tackle violence. The level of activity is unprecedented with over ¼ million stop-searches in Strathclyde alone in the last year. Yet we cannot police our way out of this. We cannot be at every party, in every house or on every street corner where violence happens. Violence is everyone's problem. While the police will be unrelenting on those who perpetrate violence and carry weapons, we must also focus our resources on preventing these dreadful crimes, and that is why this initiative should be welcomed."


Rob Yanders
Professional basketball player, Scottish Rocks:

"No Knives Better Lives is a successful programme. Being educated about things that are happening in the world is so important. We have to continue to bring positive role models in to speak to these young people about different lifestyles.

Young people should hear this message from as many different role models so that they can hopefully relate to at least one. It’s important that we give them someone to look up to- teachers, athletes, parents and even friends.

I feel I made an impact with these young people because I am a successful role model who can relate to them. I allow them to get to know me. I am honest with them, I tell them my life story, I empathize and I understand. When they see a success story, it inspires and motivates them to change.”