Our Community Spotlight features Art Against Knives (AAK), this year’s winner of the Volunteer Group of the Year at The Barnet Group’s Community Awards. Rickardo Stewart, Head of Quality and Innovation and Serious Youth Violence Specialist, introduces the aims and work of the registered charity.
AAK Founded in response to the unprovoked stabbing of Oliver Hemsley, a 21-year old student from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in 2008, which left him in a wheelchair. AAK started with an exhibition organised by Oliver’s friends and fellow students to raise money and awareness a year after he was attacked. The event gained support from some of the biggest names in art and fashion with work donated by Antony Gormley, Banksy, Tracey Emin amongst others.
We wanted to channel this support into action, addressing the root causes of knife crime by listening to young people and putting them in the lead. In 2011, AAK registered as a charity and started running creative community projects with young people, involving them in creating solutions to the problems they face and through this, preventing them from becoming victims of violent crime.
Over the past decade we’ve engaged, listened to and supported over 2000 + young people at risk of violent crime in London. During this time we found ourselves in Barnet – having close ties to the Borough; specifically with Barnet’s housing estates, we focused our efforts on working with those furthest from creative youth provision and support, including on Dollis Valley Estate, Grahame Park and Strawberry Vales estate.
We embed creative spaces in Barnet’s communities, co-designed with young people, that build on their strengths and create
opportunity. In these spaces our team of creative, highly skilled professionals build trusted relationships with young people, provide creative skills training, mentoring and specialist support to keep them safe and make it possible for them to thrive.
Find out more information about Art Against Knives please visit artagainstknives.com or @ArtAgainstKnives on Instagram