EMBRACING THE MANY Positive ASPECTS OF 2020S’ Youth Culture

Each location has its own special way of marking the Knife Angel’s appearance and here in Chelmsford, we’ll be using this visit to celebrate positive youth culture. Knife amnesties and education are all part of the Knife Angel’s message, but we also want to empower young people to make better choices long before they might even consider picking up a weapon. Keep It 100 Youth CIC secured the Angel to visit as a means of empowering conversations around 2020s youth culture.

Carrying a knife is the end of a journey and we want our young people to have the chances and the support to change course long before they get to that place. On this site you’ll find out about what’s going on, how to get involved and how to get help if you need it. 

WHY CHELMSFORD?

Chelmsford is the county’s only city and it connects lots of places, so it’s a good location to host the Knife Angel to enable lots of people to take part. Although Chelmsford doesn’t have the worst knife crime problem in the county, everywhere has a knife crime problem and we all need to make a difference. Child exploitation linked to gangs and county lines is an issue that affects the whole of Essex, including Chelmsford.

This visit is for the whole of Essex and just because you don’t live in Chelmsford, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to join in. Education, outreach and workshops will be available for young people across the county.

WHERE TO FIND THE KNIFE ANGEL

The Knife Angel will be in Chelmsford’s Central Park, which is easy to get to on foot from the city centre. The park is open at all times and footpaths and cycle networks run right across it. Details of where to park if you’re driving and how to reach Central Park by public transport can be found on the Love Your Chelmsford website.

The postcode is CM2 0RW and if you use the what3words app, head for ///tiny.trucks.wallet and you can’t go far wrong.

THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS

New knife bins will be in place in Chelmsford throughout September, including one supplied by the British Ironwork Centre close to the Knife Angel itself. Others will be placed around the city at locations where you’ll get some privacy if you use them. 

Knife bins are sometimes in very public places which people can find too intimidating to use. We want to change that, with life-saving amnesty bins in places that people don’t mind going to. If you have a weapon – please use one of these bins. The power to save a life really is in your hands. 

We’ll let you know where to find these new knife bins as soon as we can - make sure you follow us on our IG and don’t forget to subscribe.