The Knife Angel’s legacy lives on in North Somerset

Since the Knife Angel left Weston-super-Mare's Italian Gardens on 30 May, the North Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) have continued to tackle knife crime by raising awareness and educating the local community.

More than £4,000 was raised to create the North Somerset Knife Angel legacy fund, thanks to donations from members of the public and Knife Angel merchandise sales. This fund will be managed by the North Somerset VRP, and it will be used to support projects and educate young people about serious violence in North Somerset.

As part of the Knife Angel's legacy, the VRP have already delivered the following activities:

• Installed 15 new bleed kits across North Somerset, working with Avon and Somerset Police. These kits are designed to provide immediate, lifesaving intervention for individuals experiencing severe bleeding due to traumatic injuries. All 15 bleed kits have been paid for by the legacy fund.
• Using the Knife Angel legacy fund, a new knife surrender bin has been installed in Nailsea Police Station, giving North Somerset residents more opportunities to anonymously surrender weapons.

The VRP is also planning to:

• Put all the artwork created as part of Knife Angel's visit on permanent display, including the 'Beacon of Hope' - a metal sculpture created by local students in response to knife crime.
• The 579 messages left on the memorial sculpture and the 2,100 memorial ribbons tied to the fence will be used to create artwork that will be displayed as part of the Knife Angel's legacy in North Somerset.

A report exploring the Knife Angel's visit to North Somerset is also available on our website: https://saferstrongerns.co.uk/services/violence-reduction-partnership/knife-angel

Councillor James Clayton, North Somerset Council's executive member for safety in the community, said: "Our work around knife crime didn't end when the Knife Angel statue left us in May - we remain committed to tackling this important issue.

"The North Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership is continuing to work closely with other agencies. For instance, they've partnered with Avon and Somerset Police to install 15 more bleed kits across North Somerset, and a new knife surrender bin in Nailsea.

"Hosting the Knife Angel was a catalyst for conversations about knife crime and serious violence, and lots of thought-provoking art was created by our community. I'm pleased that we're working to find permanent homes for these pieces, so they can continue to raise awareness and prompt more important conversations in the future.

"Educating young people is a cornerstone of the North Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership's work. During the current academic year, the team have already delivered Blunt Truth workshops to 503 Year 9 students across North Somerset.

"We'd like to thank everyone again who supported the Knife Angel's visit to North Somerset, whether you volunteered your time, attended one of our events or came to the Italian Gardens to see the statue firsthand. We're working hard to make sure its legacy lives on in North Somerset."