Educate is our school’s programme designed to foster a whole-school approach to tackling youth violence and knife crime. It consists of two key initiatives: one focused on mentoring and the other on raising awareness and providing education.

Mentoring

We partner with local schools who understand the need of ‘a whole school approach’ and support the charities mission to further educate young people. 

Our mentoring programme supports young people facing complex challenges, ensuring they receive the guidance needed to stay in education and make positive choices. With 50% of the UK prison population having been excluded from school, we recognise the urgent need for early intervention. LNK mentors are trained to provide weekly 1:1 support, offering role models who resonate with mentees. Through mentoring, we help young people stay in education, make informed decisions, navigate personal challenges, and improve their overall wellbeing.

The impact of Mentoring:

We provided mentoring to 60 young people during the 2023 academic year, all young people completed questionnaires which then evidenced: 

  • 98% Identified of being at risk of permanent exclusion were not permanently excluded.
  • 57% Of young people admitted to committing crime before having a mentor, 37% of the 57% said they no longer commit crime.
  • 79% Of those who didn’t feel confident now feel confident.

We partner with schools for a full academic year and build relationships with local schools during the summer term of the next academic year. 

 

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Our youth worker delivering a LNK Roadshow to primary school children.

Roadshows

Roadshows were the very beginning of LNK and remain an integral part of our work in supporting young people. Aimed at 9–18-year-olds, they continue to educate and inform young people about the dangers of knife crime, anti-social behaviour, and gang involvement while promoting positive alternatives. Sessions are tailored to each school’s needs, incorporating local data and age-appropriate activities for maximum impact. Delivered by trained, DBS-checked youth workers, our roadshows ensure young people feel engaged, educated, and empowered.

Our Roadshows can be delivered accross London, dependent on distance. 

The Lives Not Knives worker was very thorough, knowledgable and professional.

 Mrs Smith, Crescent Primary Teacher