‘If it’s a knife you choose, you’re destined to lose’. One of the hard-hitting messages in a campaign to end knife crime which has earned the West Sussex Youth Cabinet national recognition.

The Youth Cabinet’s ‘Tackling knife crime in West Sussex and beyond’ project came runner-up at the National Crimebeat Awards. Award organisers praised their ‘outstanding project’ as they were awarded for their outstanding contribution to helping reduce crime and creating a safer community. They only just missed out to the winning entry from Merseyside which has been running far longer.

Daisy Watson-Rumbold and Harley Collins, West Sussex Youth Cabinet Chair and Vice Chairperson, gave a presentation on the campaign at a virtual ceremony. Harley said: “It was an honour to represent the West Sussex Youth Cabinet at the National Crimebeat Awards. I am so very proud of the work we have done in our knife crime campaign and am overjoyed to have placed second. Congratulations to the winners, truly amazing work has been done by all parties!”

For their campaign, Youth Cabinet members created a series of eye-catching anti-knife crime posters which have been sent to West Sussex schools and used on social media. They worked with Sussex Police and West Sussex County Councillors and promote [Fearless.org]Fearless.org – the youth service of the charity Crimestoppers where young people can report crime anonymously.

They were put forward for the award by Dr Tim Fooks, High Sheriff of West Sussex, who told the Youth Cabinet: “You have produced a top-quality product and I know we are all so proud of you in West Sussex. I certainly am.”

Find out about the many projects the West Sussex Youth Cabinet are working hard on on the YourSpace website.

Photo shows: Daisy Watson-Rumbold and Harley Collins presenting at the award ceremony