The fortnight represents the first time the IDHTH campaign has had a role inside the classroom, and could become a model for other schools in the South East and beyond who want to run similar anti-knife crime activities.
The national "It Doesn't Have to Happen" (IDHTH) anti-knife crime campaign aims to reduce the possession and use of knives among young people. The campaign, which has been designed by young people for young people, uses creativity and talent to explore ways in which they can be directly involved in tackling knife crime in the community and have a positive influence on their peers.
The fortnight features a series of workshops designed for young people to learn about the consequences of carrying a knife and to inspire them to come up with their own solutions to tackle the problem. These include:
- Drama sessions exploring the effects of carrying a knife
- Anti-knife crime graffiti art
- The creation of an anti-knife crime song with DJ'ing and MC'ing lessons
Year 9 pupils will also hear from renowned 19-year-old anti-knife crime campaigner Alexander Rose, about his experiences of knife crime and the STOP campaign he has set up to inspire other young people to stop carrying knives.
