A Kent football club has pledged its commitment to help young people tackle violence across the county. Chatham Town FC has joined forces with Kent Police and has signed up to its anti-violence pledge, which aims to educate children and teenagers on the dangers of carrying knives.
The campaign, which is a joint initiative between the Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit and the Kent Police Child Centred Policing Team, has been delivered over the past two years and on Tuesday 27 February 2024 the football club became the latest organisation to sign up.
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To date, more than 70 schools have joined the pledge, which has been rolled out to more than 200,000 young people across Kent. The commitment involves interactive and informative workshops where young people are educated and reminded about the dangers of knife crime, violence and how to keep each other safe.
After the workshops they then sign up to the principles of the pledge which include never carrying or using a weapon and always asking for help if needed. Materials, such as posters, are also displayed at schools and other venues which remind teens about the project.
Police Sergeant Glen Rickersey, of the Child Centred Policing Team said:
‘We are pleased to welcome Chatham Town FC as the latest organisation to join us.
‘The football club already helps to create a safe space for young people by offering them free sports sessions every Wednesday, so having them on-board reinforces their commitment to encouraging young people to stay off the streets.
‘We want to ensure young people do not see carrying a knife as a necessity to stay safe and for them to realise the true dangers they put themselves and others in should they choose to carry weapons.
‘These workshops aim to educate teenagers and give them the tools and knowledge to help them make better, informed decisions.’