On Friday 15th December, the Mazuma Mobile Stadium was the venue for a powerful knife crime awareness week event. Over 50 young people gathered to hear Byron Highton from the JJ Effect deliver an unforgettable presentation about the devastating impact of knife crime.
Byron shared the tragic story of losing his brother, Jon-Jo to knife crime, blending hard-hitting messages with engaging moments that held everyone’s attention throughout.
The event was hosted by Morecambe FC Community Foundation as part of their engagement work on the Champions programme. The evening was supported by Champions from Morecambe FC Community Foundation, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and Accrington Stanley Community Trust, alongside other local young people. Our Champions mentors played a key role in bringing the day together, ensuring its success and impact.
We were also delighted to see local MP, Lizzi Collinge, and Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, who joined us to show their support for this important cause.
Serious Violence Sergeant from the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network, Dan Whitaker praised the event, saying: “Events like this are crucial in helping young people understand the real consequences of knife crime. Byron’s story is an important reminder of why we all need to work together to keep our communities safe.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “Carrying or using knives is completely unacceptable and unnecessarily puts lives life at risk.
“Tackling serious violence will be a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan for Lancashire and I will ensure that Lancashire Police have the tools and resources they need to tackle this issue head on.
“Policing can’t deal with knife crime in isolation and education has a key part to play in reducing the number of people carrying knives. Working with charities like our Football Community Trusts as we are doing through our Violence Reduction Network, is a fantastic opportunity to engage with young people across Lancashire.
“Anything we can do to prevent knife crime is positive for Lancashire and ultimately makes our county safer.”
Above all, a big thank you to the young people who came along and got involved. Your willingness to listen, get involved, and share your thoughts made the event what it was.
In recognition of Sceptre, a national knife crime awareness week, Fleetwood Town Football Club Community Trust hosted an impactful knife crime awareness event, bringing together local schools and some of our Champions participants.
The day was a powerful reminder of the importance of positive choices and community safety, featuring impactful stories from those affected by knife crime.
The highlight of the event was anti-violence campaigner, Alison Cope, who shared her deeply personal story of resilience after losing her son Joshua to knife crime in 2013. Alison has turned her pain into purpose, using her experiences to educate others on the importance of making positive choices, and seeing a future beyond negative experiences.
Alison’s story resonated with all the young people in the room, who listened intently, asked thoughtful questions, and participated actively.
To end the session, our Champions mentors, Gary and Steven, led discussions with the young people around safety and encouraged them to share their reflections on Alison’s story. They discussed ways they could make Fleetwood a safer community.
The event was a reminder of the power of education in preventing knife crime and creating a safer future for everyone. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Alison for coming and sharing her story with us, the students for their engagement, and everyone involved in bringing the day together and helping our young people’s voices be heard.
We are thrilled to announce PNE’s Jack Whatmough has joined the team as one of our Champions ambassadors.
The Champions Programme works to positively impact young people at risk by helping them build self-confidence, resilience, and essential life skills through structured workshops, mentoring, and skill-building activities. Jack’s role will involve connecting with participants, sharing his journey to inspire participants to make positive changes in their lives.
Adam Bolton, Champions Coordinator at PNECET, shared his thoughts on Jack’s role as the Champions Ambassador: “Having Jack on board as our Champions Ambassador brings immense value to our programme. His genuine passion for helping young people and his own experiences make him an ideal role model for our participants.
“Jack’s commitment to our participants and his understanding of the challenges they face will hopefully make a difference, giving them someone they can look up to as they work towards a brighter future.”
Find out more about Champions and Jack’s role here.
A brand-new podcast called ‘Young Preston’ has just launched, and it’s all about the issues that matter to young people across Lancashire. Created by some of the Champions participants from Preston North End Community Trust, this podcast is made by young people, for young people – giving a voice to those who want to discuss topics that are important to them.
The podcast covers a wide range of topics, from music and school life to social issues and everything in between. It’s not just for young people in Preston, but for anyone across Lancashire who wants to hear real stories, honest opinions and fresh perspectives.
The first episode features John, who shares his inspiring journey of turning his life around after spending time in prison. Not, he’s helping others y working with the Preston North End Community Trust to support young people in the community.
In the second episode, PC Ben, a local police officer, talks about what it’s like to work with young people in Lancashire. He shares insights on building trust between the police and youth and discusses the challenges he faces on the job.
Episode three explores how the media often portrays young people negatively and how more positive stories can be highlighted.
This is just the beginning, with more episodes dropping regularly, make sure you tune in to hear directly from young people across Lancashire and join the conversation on topics that matter the most to you.
Listen here.
Preston North End Community and Education Trust is looking to appoint two mentors to join the Champions team.
Working as part of the Champions team, there are currently roles available for a ‘Champions Mentor’ and a ‘Champions Family Mentor’.
Champions Mentor – Vacancy: Champions Mentor – News – Preston North End (pnefc.net)
As a Champions Mentor, you will form part of the team that delivers the innovative intervention programme supporting young people aged 10 – 25 engaging in, or at risk of engaging in, crime and anti-social behaviours.
Champions Family Mentor – Vacancy: Champions Family Mentor – News – Preston North End (pnefc.net)
Working as part of the Champions Team, the Champions Family Mentor will deliver interventions for participants aged 10 to 17 and provide wrap-around support for the family. The Family Mentor will have knowledge of family wellbeing services and links with schools and the Children & Families Wellbeing service in the area.
Due to the nature of the roles, it is key that the successful candidate can act with professionalism, integrity and empathy, as well as having a willingness to learn with a measured and consistent approach at all times.
We love to see our Champions programme in action. 
The team at Accrington Stanley Community Trust have partnered with Clayton Boxing Gym to put on boxing sessions for young people aged 12-16 who are part of the VRN’s Champions programme.
We believe that every child and young person should receive the support they need to access positive opportunities. 
The sessions look at ways to positively channel emotions, as well as building discipline, self-belief, resilience and commitment.
Preston North End Community and Education Trust [PNECET] is seeking to appoint two Champions Mentors to join the Community Engagement team.
As a Champions Mentor, you will be part of the innovative intervention programme which supports young people aged 10-25 engaging in, or at significant risk of engaging in, crime and anti-social behaviour.
Working as part of the Violence Reduction Network (VRN), the Champions Programme Mentor will work with targeted individuals/groups of young people with the aim to reduce offending behaviour and risk to others.
Due to the nature of the role it is key that the successful candidate can act with professionalism, integrity and empathy, alongside having a willingness to learn with a measured and consistent approach at all times.
Closing Date: Sunday 17th December 2023 Interview Date: Week commencing Monday 18th December 2023 Job Reference: PNE-1187
Job Specification
Application Form
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
To apply, please fill in the relevant application form for the position which can be found above.
Please also fill out the equal opportunities monitoring form and return to the address below in a sealed envelope, separate to your application form as the monitoring form must remain anonymous. All of the required forms can be downloaded above.
Applications for these positions can be sent via email to jobs@pne.com or to the address below. Please state the relevant job reference number either in your email header or when sending your application.
Address:
FAO Business Support Officer
Preston North End
Deepdale
Preston
PR1 6RU
Accrington Stanley Community Trust is seeking to appoint 2 new Champions Programme Mentors.
The Community Trust is an independent registered charity that engaged with over 17,000 people last year across 30 projects.
Job Description and Application – Champions Mentor
Job Description and Application – Champions Mentor (Maternity Cover)
To apply for either of these roles, please send your CV along with a cover letter outlining your suitability to the role to jobs@stanleytrust.co.uk by 5pm on Wednesday 16th August 2023.
In your covering letter you should draw on all relevant aspects of your experience, including paid employment and/or voluntary work and training to show how your skills, experience and personal qualities match the requirements of this job, which are set out on the above job description.
Accrington Stanley Community Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and employees to share this commitment. This role involves work with young people and is subject to DBS checks. As such this post is exempt for the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and the applicant must disclose all previous convictions including spent convictions. One reference will also be required. Applicants will, in addition be expected to undertake training appropriate to the role.
In partnership with Lancashire Violence Reduction Network, the Champions programme has helped young people across Lancashire reduce anti-social behaviour and help them build confidence and increase their aspirations.
Wigan Athletic Community Trust has been running a number of cohorts of the Champions programme, including group and one-to-one sessions for young people across Wigan and Skelmersdale.
One of those young people is Emmie, who has been taking part in weekly one-to-one sessions with one of Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Youth Engagement Officers, Ella Shickhoff.
Ella has been working with Emmie for ten weeks, taking part in mentoring, enrichment activities and workshops, with the aim of helping Emmie experience new activities outside of her local area and allowing her to build her confidence, behaviour and attitude towards other people.
These have included regular trips to Wigan Youth Zone to join in with other Community Trust activities as well as take part in workshops focused on mental health, knife crime and drug awareness.
“I’ve become a bit less naughty than what I was. My whole attitude towards people has changed.” – Emmie Champions Participant
CHAMPIONS | EMMIE
Speaking about Emmie’s progress since joining the programme, Ella said:
“From the first week to now, her engagement levels are completely different.
“She’s less nervous. Her interest in the workshops has really increased. I don’t think she’s missed a week or a session since we started.
“Her confidence has seen a great difference. Through the engagement levels, she shows in sessions, you can tell that her confidence levels have increased.
“It’s just about being another person in that young person’s life that gives them a chance, it’s monumental to them, and it’s what our work is all about.”
Those thoughts were supported by Emmie, who said:
“It’s just a place to get away from Skem [Skelmersdale] sometimes when you need to get away from something.
“You can talk to Ella about anything that you need to talk to her about. You can come out and have fun.
“I’ve become a bit less naughty than what I was. And now I’m not getting in as much trouble as I was in the streets before I started coming.
“My whole attitude just changed towards people.”