Borough Backs Charlton Athletic's Plans to Tackle Knife Crime
The London Borough of Bexley has given its whole-hearted support to Charlton
Athletic's exciting plans to use the power of football to tackle violence on
the streets.
Councillors and Council officers from Bexley will join representatives of
the Club, the Police and neighbouring councils for an event to raise awareness
of the issue during Charlton's home fixture against Reading on Saturday 23 August.
Under the ground-breaking plans announced this week, Charlton Athletic Community
Trust coaches will visit schools and estates across Bexley, Greenwich and Kent
to talk to children and educate them about the dangers of knives and guns.
"I am looking forward to visiting The Valley - and to demonstrating our
support for the Club's plan to raise awareness of the tragic impact of street
violence on the lives of our young people," said Cllr
Teresa O'Neill, the
Leader of the Council. "Charlton have a great track record of community
work and I am confident that we can work together to provide an education programme
for our young people that gets the right results."
Cllr Katie Perrior, the Council's Cabinet member for Community Affairs also
gave her backing to the plans: "We are delighted to be working with Charlton
on this issue, which we know is of great concern to our residents. I am sure
that through partnership and by harnessing the broad appeal of football, we can
highlight the help available to all those affected by street violence and help
encourage those responsible for such violence to make more of their lives."
The Club has designed a special logo bearing the words 'street violence ruins
lives' that the Charlton players will wear on their shirts for the fixture against
Reading.
The scheme was devised by the football club and its community trust and the
recent announcement followed discussions with local councils, the government
and the police.
Jason Morgan, Chief Executive of the Charlton Community Trust explained: “We
already go into schools, and we deliver programmes into 80 estates per week where
we can reach the most at risk and vulnerable young people. The power of football
is extraordinary, and some youngsters respond far more to someone in a tracksuit
than traditional approaches. It is our intention to get education resource packs
to every child in Greenwich, Bexley and Kent.”
The second of Bexley's public meetings for residents on community safety issues
will take place at the Civic Offices in Bexleyheath from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesday
10 September.
Chaired by Cllr Katie Perrior, the open forum will give local people the chance
to question a panel of senior representatives from the Police, Council, Fire
Brigade, Probation Service and the Health Service and will follow the format
of BBC TV's successful 'Question Time' programme.
Similar meetings have already taken place in Sidcup and Erith and the following
are scheduled in other parts of the borough -
Wednesday 24 September 7pm - Welling School, Berwick Road, Welling Wednesday
8 October 2008 7pm - Thames Innovation Centre, 2 Veridion Way, Erith
To find out more about the work of the Bexley Community Safety Partnership
visit www.bexley.gov.uk/service/bcsp/index.html
