Word 4 Weapons knife awareness workshops

Are you planning your schools Personal, Social and Health education this year? Why not consider having one of Word 4 Weapons one off knife awareness workshops at your school?

 Word 4 Weapons have got funding to deliver these in Lambeth, Enfield, Haringey, Hackney, Barking and Dagenham and Waltham Forest. 

Funding is limited and Word 4 Weapons will be responding on a first come first served basis, so hurry to book your session. To book your schools workshop email Development@word4weapons.co.uk.

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Pink Floyd - Is There Anybody Out There?

Candlelight Vigil Service for victims of knife crime

Danny O'Brien of Anti-Knife UK has said that he was "so pleased with the turnout" at last night's Candlelight Vigil for victims of knife crime which was hosted at St John's Seven Kings. He says, we "had about 60 people attended and a few technical issues, but I think everyone who came was pleased they came and all my speakers were first class and Camara Jessica Fearon made me cry with her singing and the dancer at the end was amazing too. Thank you if you attended ..." He goes on to say that he would "like to thank everyone who attend or sent messages of support. A big thank you to all those who took part and especially Jonathan Evens who believed in what I was trying to do and offered me his church for the vigil."

I am quoted in the Ilford Recorder as saying that, “the congregation was very grateful for the event.” They took part in an act of remembrance, lighting a candle next to a photo display of knife crime victims. “They were very moved by the occasion, the prayers and reflection" and "were fired up by the speakers too.” Mike Smith, of Word 4 Weapons, an organisation which launched this country’s first weapon exchange programme spoke alongside Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), and Danny O’Brien.

I said that, “We put on the service because we recognised a need people have when they are grieving to remember loved ones and to do that in a public way too with prayer and reflection in the run up to Christmas.” I'm also quoted as saying that we won't be repeating the service next year. That's partly because I will have moved on from St John's by that time and, therefore, can't make commitments on behalf of the church but is also because Danny would like to take the format of this service to other locations rather than simply repeating it annually in Seven Kings.

A contemporary dance act, “expressing the emotions of those affected by knife crime”, rounded off the service in a powerful and moving manner.

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Ooberfuse - Different Drum.

Award for Anti-Knife UK

Danny O'Brien, who runs Anti-Knife UK, has won an award from the Chris Donovan Trust.  Click here to read the story in the Ilford Recorder.

Danny is involved in organising a Candle-light Vigil for victims of knife crime to be hosted by St John's Seven Kings on Wednesday 3rd december from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. Among those speaking at the service will be Mike Smith, the founder of Word 4 Weapons.

This week's Ilford Recorder has great coverage of community initiatives in Redbridge including: a Vigil for Magdalena Welna; the opening of the Redbridge Cold Weather Centre; a day in the life of Ilford's Salvation Army lieutenants; Shoebox presents collected by St Peter's Aldborough Hatch; the Sophia Hub Enterprise Club; and the East London Three Faiths Forum Tour of the Holy Land. Click here to read these stories.

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The Mighty Clouds of Joy - I've Been In The Storm Too Long.

Word 4 Weapons knife bin launch

This evening saw the launch of the Word 4 Weapons knife bin located at Seven Kings Methodist Church and made available through the sponsorship of the Lions Club Seven Kings. The launch featured speeches from the President of the Lions Club Seven Kings, the Deputy Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Mrs Ruth Clark, Rev. Ken Nicholls, Minister of Seven Kings Methodist Church, and a Word 4 Weapons volunteer.

Word 4 Weapons is a Christian based organisation started by Michael Smith in 2007, after several years of seeing too many young lives being lost to gun and knife crime. There are several strands to their programme: providing guidance to young people, their parents and guardians; working in partnership with organisations who share their aim; and providing secure bins where weapons can be deposited.

Knives can be deposited anonymously but can also be exchanged for an "All I Need" pack. These come in blue, red or black and can contain: a Bible; comic; book of help; and specially selected gifts such as dvds or PC games. To exchange a knife for a bag; it has to take place face-to-face but no questions are asked when the knife is handed over to be put into the knife bin and those giving out the "All I Need" bags are available to answer questions.

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M. Ward - Fuel For Fire.