Latest news with #BenKinsellaTrust
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Daily Record
ITV GMB's Susanna Reid fights back tears as she's left 'in awe' of Southport survivor
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid was overcome with emotion as she listened to Southport survivor Leanne Lucas, who was critically injured in a knife attack, on the ITV show. Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid was visibly moved during a poignant interview with Leanne Lucas on Wednesday's programme. Susanna, alongside her co-presenter Richard Madeley, engaged in conversation with Leanne, a yoga teacher who suffered life-threatening injuries in the Southport knife attack last year, which tragically ended the lives of three young girls - Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Aguiar. Leanne appeared on GMB with Patrick Green, the CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust, to announce the initiation of the Let's Be Blunt campaign. Her goal is to encourage a societal change that favours the use of blunt-ended knives over traditional pointed-tip ones, reducing the likelihood of grave injuries. Upon introducing Leanne to the viewers, Susanna spoke to her with deep empathy and admiration. "I'm just sitting here in awe of your courage to be here this morning, to reflect on what happened last summer. I know that you will have been changed and become a very different person because of what happened to you," Susanna remarked, reports Bristol Live. She continued: "I know that it's vital to you that you find something that helps you get something out of the trauma and tragedy, that means that you could, in the future, perhaps, save lives. "And, that's what this campaign is all about, isn't it?" Leanne concurred with Susanna's remarks, then tearfully elaborated: "Yes. Evil will not win. There has to be something that comes out of this, there has to be change. "This cannot happen to the families it happened to, and we just sit back and do nothing about it. I will not let that happen." As a yoga instructor, Leanne proceeded to discuss her recovery process, highlighting the significance of openly discussing knife crime. In a heart-wrenching admission, Leanne shared that she had not returned to her teaching role and remained uncertain about her future in the profession. "No. My role was a teacher. To be responsible for the safety of children. That's a really difficult position for me to ever be back in again, to be responsible for anybody else," she sorrowfully revealed to Richard and Susanna. "It's a really difficult situation to be in when you're faced with something you just never imagined could happen." When Richard inquired if knowing she had done her best during the attack had aided her recovery, Leanne responded: "Not really, because look what happened. We can't change the result of what happened." She continued: "So, if we can do anything to make sure that people don't feel the way I feel, the way the families feel, the way Southport feels, then we will continue to talk about this. I think that's one of the main things I'm trying to say, is we need to talk about knife crime." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
ITV News
21-05-2025
- ITV News
Southport survivor Leanne Lucas launches 'Let's be Blunt' campaign for ban on pointed knives
Leanne Lucas is calling for a ban on pointed knives and says 'we must continue to talk about knife crime' A yoga teacher who survived the Southport attack says "evil will not win", as she launches her campaign for safer knives. Leanne Lucas managed to get several children to safety in the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July 2024, despite being stabbed several times. Leanne has partnered with the Ben Kinsella Trust for the 'Let's be Blunt' campaign, calling for people to swap to blunted knives, instead of ones with pointed tips. The teacher is heading to Westminster to call on MPs to endorse the campaign, saying the damage and "misery she saw caused by knives must never be repeated". Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Leanne said she the horrific events in Southport "changed her life forever". Leanne was critically injured in the attack on 29 July 2024, and three children - Alice da Silva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King - were killed. She said she hasn't been able to use a kitchen knife since the attack. Leanne said: "I think being introduced to the blunt tip knives has been a step forward for me in my journey, as well as being able to speak about it publicly to help everybody else. "There has to be something that comes out of this, there has to be change." Patrick Green, from the Ben Kinsella Trust, said: "With blunted knives we're removing the opportunity, the impulsivity. "Blunted knives would make things safer for everyone, and it's something the public can adopt right now. "We don't need to wait for legislation, I expect a lot of people don't know that you can actually buy these knives now." The 'Let's be Blunt' campaign is being unveiled at a Knife Crime Awareness Week parliamentary reception on Wednesday, 21 May, where Leanne will speak alongside the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson. Knife Crime Awareness Week, which runs from 19–25 May, is organised by the Ben Kinsella Trust, a knife crime prevention charity. Leanne told Good Morning Britain: "We can't change what happened. "But if we can do anything, so people don't feel the way I feel, the way the families feel, then we will continue to talk about this. "We need to talk about knife crime and how we can keep people safe. "If everyone plays a tiny part in tackling this, we can make a massive change."
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Susanna Reid fights tears as Southport survivor makes heratbreaking admission
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid was left emotional during an interview with Leanne Lucas, who was critically injured in the Southport knife attack last year Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid couldn't hold back her emotions during Wednesday's (21 May) programme as she spoke with Leanne Lucas, a guest who survived the horrific Southport stabbing incident last year. Susanna, alongside co-anchor Richard Madeley, welcomed both Leanne, a yoga instructor who sustained critical injuries in the assault that tragically ended the lives of three youngsters - Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice Aguiar - and Patrick Green, CEO of Ben Kinsella Trust to discuss an impactful new initiative. Leanne has bravely stepped forward to launch the Let's Be Blunt campaign, a drive to encourage a societal shift towards using blunt-ended kitchen knives instead of traditional sharp ones as a measure to reduce severe injuries. Upon introducing Leanne to the show's audience, Susanna addressed her own admiration for the guest's resilience. "I'm just sitting here in awe of your courage to be here this morning, to reflect on what happened last summer. I know that you will have been changed and become a very different person because of what happened to you," said Susanna. She continued: "I know that it's vital to you that you find something that helps you get something out of the trauma and tragedy, that means that you could, in the future, perhaps, save lives. And, that's what this campaign is all about, isn't it?" Leanne, visibly moved by Susanna's words, shared: "Yes. Evil will not win. There has to be something that comes out of this, there has to be change. This cannot happen to the families it happened to, and we just sit back and do nothing about it. I will not let that happen." The yoga instructor discussed her path to recovery and stressed the crucial need for open discussions on knife crime. Heart-wrenchingly admitting that she hadn't stepped back into her role as a teacher, Leanne expressed uncertainty about her future in teaching, reports Bristol Live. "No. My role was a teacher. To be responsible for the safety of children. That's a really difficult position for me to ever be back in again, to be responsible for anybody else," Leanne somberly confided to Richard and Susanna. "It's a really difficult situation to be in when you're faced with something you just never imagined could happen." When Richard inquired if feeling she had done "the best" she could during the attack had aided her healing, Leanne responded: "Not really, because look what happened. We can't change the result of what happened." Continuing with passionate conviction, Leanne added: "So, if we can do anything to make sure that people don't feel the way I feel, the way the families feel, the way Southport feels, then we will continue to talk about this. I think that's one of the main things I'm trying to say, is we need to talk about knife crime."
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-05-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
School Shirts Art Exhibition Highlights Problem of Knife Crime in Bristol
An art exhibition showcasing school shirts emblazoned with anti-knife crime messages will go on display as part of Knife Crime Awareness Week, a BBC report said on Tuesday. Created by young people in Bristol, the exhibition will be held at the Lord Mayor's Chapel on College Green, Bristol, from May 19 to 25. In the 'Empty Shirts, Lost Childhoods' project, participants aged 13 to 25 were invited to decorate plain white school shirts with poetry, slogans, artwork, and memorials that reflect their feelings and experiences of knife crime. The University of Bristol's Dr. Jade Levell, who led the project, said the exhibition 'shines an important light' on young people. Knife Crime Awareness Week, which runs from May 19 to 25, is an annual campaign by the Ben Kinsella Trust that aims to raise awareness of knife crime's devastating effects and promote preventative solutions. Levell said: 'Writing on school shirts is a rite of passage for many young people as they graduate from formal education.' 'Children involved in youth violence often miss out on this milestone, due to being excluded from school, victims of violence, or perpetrators in custody,' she added. The project represents the culmination of a unique creative project spearheaded by the University of Bristol in collaboration with local schools and youth organizations. It also invites community members to respond by contributing to a 'community manifesto' that will be shared with the Bristol City Council and other partners to inform future youth violence prevention strategies. Duncan Stanway, assistant director at Barnardo's, said: 'It is important that we listen to what young people who are affected by violence say about their lives.' He added: 'We see too many young people who are seriously harmed through exploitation and violence.' The initiative is part of a broader citywide effort, led by the Bristol City Office, to address serious youth violence through collaboration between community groups, academics, police, and public health bodies. Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody praised the initiative, saying: 'It powerfully captures the voices and experiences of young people affected by violence.'
Metro
20-05-2025
- Metro
'My son was stabbed to death - we need a fresh approach on knife crime'
A mum whose son was stabbed to death hours after signing his first record deal wants the government to let young people have a chance to 'better themselves'. Sandra McMurray's son, Jonathan, was killed when he was ambushed in an attack in 2002 as he walked home after a night out with his friends and family. While there were witnesses to Jonathan's attack, more than 20 years on police have failed to charge anyone with his murder. The aspiring musician had just followed his dreams of a career on stage, but his life became another statistic in the ever-growing issue of knife crime across the capital. So far this year already 29 people have been killed using a knife in London, and according to Scotland Yard, a crime involving a knife happens every 30 minutes. The Ben Kinsella Trust states there has been an 80 per cent increase in police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the past 10 years across the country. Earlier this year, research by Metro also revealed that nearly half of murders in the UK have been due to stabbings or violent incidents with a blade. Sandra, 68, told Metro: 'Every day somebody is being shot or being stabbed. 'They [youngsters] have nowhere to go, nothing to do. It's [crime] an easy road for them.' Mrs McMurray said: 'He had just got started when his life was cut short' She added that the Government should focus on helping youths build their career. She said: 'Young people are our future. They are dying on the streets. Give them the opportunity. If not, they just go on the streets. They are our future, and they have to be allowed to better themselves.' It comes as a new survey revealed that one in seven young people believe a new national approach is needed to knife crime. New research has found more than eight out of ten 16-24 year olds remain sceptical about laws to restrict the sale of knives, with more than 70 per cent saying the legislation addresses the symptom rather than the cause. Mrs McMurray was scathing of ministers' efforts to tackle knife crime and she said: 'They just buy them online. They think knives will protect themselves.' 'They're just lining their pockets, increasing their salaries. We voted for Labour to change things for us. 'We voted thinking it would change this for us. [But} they do nothing.' Dr Mark Prince OBE, who leads the Kiyan Prince Foundation, in memory of his son, who was stabbed to death in 2006, also spoke to Metro about the new data. As part of Knife Crime Awareness Week, Mark has been speaking about the issues surrounding young people and knife crime. Knife Crime Awareness Week is returning from 19th – 25th May. With a clear message: knife crime is preventable. This campaign, supported by a growing network of charities, community groups, and professionals, aims to shift the narrative around knife crime by highlighting the individuals and efforts already making a difference. This campaign highlights that progress is being made – not just through policy, but through the everyday work of parents, teachers, youth workers, and local organisations who are actively working to tackle knife crime. This year's focus is on empowerment. The campaign provides practical tools and resources to help adults understand the drivers of knife crime and how they can support young people. It's not aimed at adults who can make a difference. Those who can spot the signs, start the conversation, and create safer environments for young people. Every mentoring session, school workshop, police intervention, and community programme contributes to a growing movement for change. The challenge now is to scale that impact and turn individual efforts into national momentum. For more information visit the Ben Kinsella Trust website. He said young people have been 'let down dramatically' and need support to tackle crime, and that a new long-term approach is needed to take on societal issues and help young people off the streets and into careers. He told the Metro: 'I have spoken for years about a public health approach. ''We are robbing the world of children with unfinished stories. 'We have let them down dramatically. You can't just throw the stone at them. What's happening is that children are having their lives finished by other children. He said young people needed proper support and assistance to achieve their goals and move away from gangs. 'Give them space to improve', he said. 'Help them to see things in a different light. Then understand the success model. What do you have to do to get success? 'If we don't put something in place to help them realise: 'This is the support I have been looking for', they will start to implode and that impacts on society.' 'What we are seeing is a break down', he said. 'And now they [children] have access to the world so they know what's going on.' He continued: 'Education is not meeting their needs. Everything is going up in price but wages haven't. If you start breaking the family, you are going to to have very serious consequences. 'If we care enough and we make it top of our agenda, we can do it. There can be a difference if we really care. It's more achievable than people think. 'We are criminalising when we need to be encouraging.' He suggested that ministers should look over the border for a solution. 'In Scotland they took action, and it's not an issue like it was before. Why aren't we doing the same?' He continued: 'Our job as parents isn't just to provide the physical needs for our children, we have to help them understand their emotional and spiritual needs. It takes a village to raise a child, but the villagers aren't on the same page. 'If the villagers say this kind of behaviour is cool, if in fashion, they are selling balaclavas. In every area, there are issues. He said businesses had to play their role in ensuring young people's welfare rather than simply profiting from them. 'We need a new narrative. We need to find out what's hard for young people, negative influences, and show them positive influences. We need a system that's fit for purpose. 'What we are finding is that young people who are doing well and have passed exams, you will find them falling down very easily with the simplest challenge. 'It's about giving them the mental health support and showing them how to tackle life's challenges. It's about teaching the character we need that allows you to become successful. 'Young people take these tales for life. That's our job as parents and teachers.' The Kiyan Prince Foundation uses sports and success coaching to focus on self (discovery, discipline and esteem) and to develop a 'champion's' mindset. It strives to empower young people to make positive decisions and to become life champions, ready to lead, serve, and fight for the future they deserve. You can support their work here. But he added that the strategy needed to be supported with robust measures to tackle crime. More Trending 'In terms of what [young people] are doing with a knife, there's no consequence. There's a slap on the wrist.' This has resulted in a lost of faith in the policing system, he says. He said without the work his charity was doing to help young people through activities such as boxing and football, things would be even worse. 'Until the Government jump in line we are holding up the fort. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man, 26, stabbed to death in north west London named and pictured MORE: Mum of student killed in Strand crash 'almost reached her' as she lay dying MORE: Raid of Café Diana in Kensington uncovers 45 tubs of 'illegal' shisha tobacco
