Knife Crime Campaign

A case study by Ellesia Hanna, Youth Social Action Apprentice at Nottingham College, Derby College and Leicester College.

In the 2024–2025 academic year, students in the STEPS provision at Derby College initiated a youth-led social action project to address the pressing issue of knife crime in their community. Recognising the increasing incidents and the profound impact of such violence, the students were motivated to make a real difference. Their objective was to enhance public safety by implementing practical solutions and raising awareness about the consequences of knife-related incidents.

The students began by conducting research to understand the root causes and effects of knife crime in Derby. They identified that immediate medical intervention could significantly reduce fatalities resulting from stabbing incidents and that the majority of first aid kits across the city were located in businesses and only accessible during business hours. This insight led them to focus on the deployment of anti-bleed kits across the city, in spaces that are publicly accessible 24/7.

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