Count Me In is a joint initiative between the Department for Children, Schools and Families, Families Utd and the Home Office, which aims to increase young people’s understanding, confidence, and belief in the fact that it is safer not to carry knives and similar weapons. Join schools across the UK in promoting Count Me In: Together We Can Stop Knife Crime and show that your school – and your pupils – are a positive force for stopping serious youth violence involving knives and other sharp weapons.
Although this campaign is about getting young people to engage with this issue, schools can play a significant role in supporting and amplifying the messages to young people in a safe environment. We recognise that most schools are safe places and do not have an issue with knife crime, but raising awareness amongst young people can still be beneficial. That is why we need you to get involved. Schools are in an ideal position to raise the issue of knife crime with large numbers of young people who may, at some point in their future, be faced with difficult decisions. This campaign is about prevention – helping to inform and empower young people to make the right choice and support others to do the same.
This guide can be used by all schools across England and Wales. It will be of most use to those working directly with pupils including:
- Teachers
- PSHE Teachers
- Year Heads
- Head Teachers
Running a session at your school can help your pupils:
- Understand and say no to the consequences of carrying knives and other sharp weapons.
- Talk about the issue. Not talking about something doesn’t make it go away. Talking about violence and knives gives pupils choices to say no.
- Feel empowered to help stop knife crime destroying lives. Stabbings and violent crime are issues affecting young people – but they can help change this.
- Feel encouraged to take easy and effective actions such as joining the campaign on Facebook and spreading the word to their friends, to someone they know who is involved in or has been affected by knife crime, at school and/or in their local community.
