HELP stop knife crime please - 'Donate to Educate' in schools

I'M STEPPING up campaigning efforts this year to try to stop people carrying and using knives for violence and criminal acts - and am asking people to help tackle knife crime by donating online at the Virgin Giving site.

Click this picture to donate - and learn more about the 'Three Peaks' challenge to remember Ben

After Ben Kinsella was tragically murdered in June 2008, his family set up The Ben Kinsella Trust. Ben was only 16 when he was stabbed to death in an unnecessary act of horrific violence that shocked the nation.

He had just finished school, received top GCSE grades and was just about to begin a life full of promise. This was cut short by the devastating and growing problem that is knife crime.

Since Ben’s death, the Trust has received a huge amount of support as well as many generous donations to use primarily in the following ways:

• To pass on the legacy of Ben – by making sure the amazing impact he had in his life and since his death is never forgotten.
• To promote knife-crime awareness – many people believe that knife crime is not their problem and will never affect them. Sadly we know this is not the case and we want to ensure that everyone is aware of the threat that knife related crime poses to our lives.
• To educate children of all ages of the consequences of knife crime and the devastating effect that it has on families – by ensuring children as young as primary school age are educated about knife crime and will never consider picking up a weapon, be it through peer pressure, fear or simply believing it is cool.  We aim to send the message to kids today that carrying a knife is not acceptable, against the law and could end in devastating consequences.
• To hopefully one day build youth centres in Ben’s name – as a tribute to him and to help protect, support and nurture kids on our streets. Sadly there are not enough recreational facilities for children in our country and we believe that when kids are kept busy and active they are less likely to become involved in gangs and anti-social behaviour. We would like to initially base our youth centre in Islington where Ben grew up and is known and loved.

Please help. London is a particularly bad place for knife and other violent crime. Money raised will go to the heart of the capital city to work on changing hearts and minds. Donate here - many thanks.