On 28th November, Wigan Athletic Champions mentors and some of their mentees completed a sponsored bike ride from Southport to the Brick Community Stadium, raising funds to support the installation of a bleed control cabinet in their local community.
The day began with pupils from primary, secondary and SEND schools across the Southport Learning Trust taking part in a 2-mile run. This concluded with the handover of a bleed control kit, highlighting young people working together across the region to raise awareness and prevent knife harm.
The event provided a meaningful opportunity for young people to contribute to a cause that could help save lives, while building confidence, perseverance and positive relationships with trusted adult role models.
Champions Mentor Jack Corless said: “This was a great experience for our young people to take part in, they got behind the cause and showed hard work and determination throughout. Well done to all that took part and helped us raise funds for a bleed control cabinet, that will be placed outside the Brick Community Stadium to potentially save lives.”
On Wednesday 15th November, Champions hosted a powerful and thought-provoking community event at Morecambe FC, led by our Morecambe Champions Mentor. The event brought together around 80 people from across the community, including young people, parents, carers, and professionals, all coming together to learn, reflect, and connect.
The day began with a deeply moving introduction from Kelly Brown, who founded Mero’s World following the murder of her son, Rhamero West. Kelly shared her personal journey with honest and courage, setting a meaningful tone for the event. Her story highlighted the devastating impact of violence while also showing how lived experience can be transformed into positive action, education, and prevention.
Throughout the evening, attendees took part in a range of engaging workshops delivered by organisations working on to tackle serious violence in our communities. Sessions were led by Leo’s Boxing, Lancashire Police, the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network, Shay Walsh MMA and Global Link, each workshop encouraged open conversations, practical learning, and positive engagement.
One of the most powerful moments of the evening came when a Champions mentee shared his own life story. Speaking honestly about the challenges he has faced, he explained how Champions has supported him and helped him make positive changes. His words were a real reflection of the impact mentoring and consistent support can have.
The emotions, energy, and message of the day were captured by spoken word artist, Nathan Parker, who documented the event through poetry. His work brings the voices and experiences of the event to life, and the video below offers a powerful insight into what the event meant to those involved.
The event at Morecambe FC showed the strength of collaboration and the importance of creating spaces where people can come together, have honest conversations and find out what support is available to them.
Champions from Across East Lancashire came together for a powerful 10-mile youth-led walk to mark the start of ‘Sceptre’, a national knife crime awareness week.
The walk brought together 22 young people supported by Champions mentors, all taking time to reflect on the impact of knife crime and to show what it looks like when young people take the lead in creating safer communities.
Before setting off, the Champions were joined by Laura Hughes from ‘kNOwKnifeCrime’, who lost her brother to knife crime. Laura spoke openly to the young people at both the start and end of the walk, sharing her lived experience and the reality of what knife crime leaves behind. Her honesty, strength, and passion made a huge impact on everyone there. She reminded the group why their actions matter and how powerful their voices are.
What made the day special wasn’t just the distance. It was the conversations, the shared moments, and the real sense of togetherness along the route. Many of the young people taking part said it was the first time they’d been involved in something like this, and the experience gave them space to talk openly, look out for each other, and feel part of something bigger.
The walk ended at the knife-crime memorial bench in Blackburn Cathedral, where everyone placed their own handwritten message. Some wrote about friends and family, others shared hopes for change. All of them were honest, emotional and full of meaning, a reminder that young voices are powerful and deserve to be heard.
Not only were the young people walking to raise awareness of knife crime, they were also raising funds for a bleed cabinet to be installed at Accrington Stanley and Blackburn Rovers football stadium. Knowing that their efforts could one day help save a life gave the whole day an extra layer of meaning.
A huge well done to every single Champion who took part, support, encouraged and kept each other going. Your energy made this walk inspiring from beginning to end.
