*"On May 1, 2024, I called upon a diverse group of friends—from DJs to actors, ex-offenders to criminal lawyers—to join forces at the AP Foundation Hub in Hackney, London. Together, we formed the campaign group __“Who’s Next?”__ This gathering marked the beginning of a new chapter in our collective effort to end the cycle of violence plaguing our city. As someone deeply invested in the well-being of London’s youth, I believe it is our collective responsibility to tackle this problem head-on."* __- Andrew Pritchard | Founder__

## A New Chapter in the Fight Against Violence
The __"Who’s Next?"__ campaign is built on a comprehensive 7-step action plan designed to tackle the root causes of knife crime. Our mission is to provide young people with the support and opportunities they need to choose a different path. Reflecting on the past year, the need for this campaign has become even more evident. We cannot sit back and watch as the same tragedies unfold—the same lives lost, the same communities torn apart. The question __"Who’s next?"__ resonates deeply: Who’s next to be stabbed? Who’s next to be killed? Who’s next to receive a life sentence? This was my call to action for everyone who cares about the future of our city.

![whos-next-campaign-amnesty](//images.ctfassets.net/5d9fcs3kukf6/2HkFiAn9giJYNS3VBQGYvb/9bf02916ba60c06c9df4387e83a9568e/whos-next-campaign-amnesty.JPG)

The statistics are chilling. In 2023, the Metropolitan Police reported a 20% increase in knife crime offenses—a stark reminder that this problem is worsening. With nearly 30% of all knife crime in England and Wales occurring within the Met’s jurisdiction, the scale of the issue in London is undeniable. But behind these numbers are real lives—young people whose potential is extinguished by death or incarceration. The ripple effects of these tragedies extend far beyond the immediate victims, leaving families broken, communities paralyzed by fear, and a growing mistrust in authorities.*text in italic*

## Community-Driven Solutions: Our Collective Responsibility

This isn’t just a problem for the police or politicians to solve; it’s a problem for all of us. The solution must come from within our communities, informed by the experiences of those directly affected by knife crime. This includes businesses, charities, families who have suffered the tragedy of losing a child, and former gang members who are now dedicated to preventing others from making the same mistakes they did. Everyone has a role to play in this mission.

It’s easy to point fingers and blame others for the failures that have led us here, but blame alone does nothing to solve the problem. What we need now is action—action informed by a deep understanding of the factors driving young people toward violence.

![whos-next-campaign-amnesty-knifes](//images.ctfassets.net/5d9fcs3kukf6/6q13Alezj7LAlQV4NgbgXH/7ccca18a7323e8fd27eb8d567c21d20b/whos-next-campaign-amnesty-knifes.JPG)

The __“Who’s Next?”__ campaign is our response to this challenge. It is a multi-phase initiative designed to tackle knife crime through a comprehensive, community-focused approach that prioritises education, engagement, and prevention. Over the next 12 to 18 months, we plan to implement a series of initiatives that will not only address the immediate issue but also lay the groundwork for long-term, sustainable change.

## Listening to Those Affected: The First Step
The first step in this journey is to listen. We must engage with those most affected by knife crime—victims, families, educators, youth workers, and members of the criminal justice system. Their stories, insights, and experiences will form the foundation of a comprehensive research piece that will do more than just present statistics. It will tell the real story of knife crime in London and offer evidence-based solutions that can be implemented at the community level.

This research will serve as a critical tool for our campaign, providing a clear direction for local councils and the government. By drawing on the lived experiences of those on the front lines, we can shift the narrative from one of despair to one of hope and action.

![whos-next-campaign-team-2](//images.ctfassets.net/5d9fcs3kukf6/1Zo8TNfxPu7NcjqRsrjGLE/893d2b81dcd8b186175bf6896b7f1bc2/whos-next-campaign-team-2.JPG)

## Building Strategic Partnerships for Lasting Change
But research alone is not enough. To create real change, we need to work together. That’s why we have been working tirelessly to establish strategic partnerships across various sectors, from legal and criminal justice to education and community outreach. These partnerships are crucial to our success, providing us with the expertise, resources, and reach necessary to implement meaningful change.

Our partners include __MK Law__, who are helping us understand the legal landscape, and __Fabio D’Andrea__, who is using visual media to amplify our message. On the ground, organizations like __Faz Amnesty CIC__, __DBA Projects__, __One Chance__, __Youth Unity__, and __Factory East Community Project__ are working directly with young people to provide the support and opportunities they need to choose a path away from violence.

## Creating an Environment for Lasting Change
Addressing the root causes of knife crime requires more than just a police response; it demands a coordinated, holistic approach that improves socio-economic conditions, offers better educational and employment opportunities, and supports families and communities. This is the core of our campaign—creating an environment where young people have the confidence, support, and opportunities they need to thrive outside of gang culture.

We cannot afford to wait any longer. The time to act is now. Through the __“Who’s Next?”__ campaign and all of its partners, we are committed to leading this charge. Over the next 6 to 12 months, we will present a proposal to the government on processing certain types of knives, support __Faz Amnesty__ in securing funding for a knife collection van, and produce an anti-knife crime short film to be shown in schools and cinemas. We have formed strategic alliances with __TRO Marking__, __Urban Arts Entertainment Group__, and dozens of internationally recognized DJs along with their affiliated brands. Within 18 to 36 months, we aim to introduce VR experiences to anti-knife and gang awareness talks in schools, open an Activity Hub, and launch an annual music, culture, and arts festival to promote peace and unity.

![whos-next-campaign-farron-paul-andrew-pritchard](//images.ctfassets.net/5d9fcs3kukf6/1yldNZFM7TTJMbQ9cNYAYc/a01c41db4b7d53813b05ff26023c275c/whos-next-campaign-farron-paul-andrew-pritchard.JPG)

## Join Us in the Fight for London’s Future
Through education, community engagement, support systems, and advocacy, we can change mindsets and reduce the prevalence of knife crime, paving the way for a brighter, violence-free future. This is not just a campaign; it’s a movement—a call to action for everyone who cares about the future of our city. By working together, we can make a difference. The time to act is now, and we urge you to join us in this vital effort to end knife crime in London.

The fight against youth knife crime in London has reached a critical juncture, one that demands collective action from all corners of society. As the founder of the AP Foundation, I have witnessed first-hand the devastation wrought by this epidemic—lives cut short, families shattered, and communities left in fear. Over the past 12 months, London has become a tragic map of young people lost to knife and gun crime, and the urgency to act has never been more pressing.

The AP Foundation is not just another charity; it is a peer-led mentoring organization with a clear mission: to reduce offending by supporting at-risk young people and ex-offenders. We believe that with the right support, training, and employment opportunities, we can transform the lives and behavior of hundreds of misguided young people. By doing so, we can also reduce crime in our communities and offer hope to those who feel trapped in a cycle of violence.

![whos-next-campaign-andrew-pritchard-speaking](//images.ctfassets.net/5d9fcs3kukf6/15bLJnY8x7J4tgVguNoA1Z/eb3bf3f5a354b4725341b376875ba904/whos-next-campaign-andrew-pritchard-speaking.JPG)

With the support of Ambassadors, leading figures and partners, together we can use our influence to raise awareness about the __“Who’s Next?”__ campaign and inspire others to join our cause. For many young people, celebrities and public figures are their heroes. They look up to them as role models, and in a world where the alternative is often the toxic influence of postcode gangs, together we can literally save lives.

The surge in youth knife crime across London has reached a critical point, threatening to erode the very fabric of our communities. This is not just a statistic; it’s a crisis that leaves behind a trail of devastation—lives cut short, families shattered, and entire neighborhoods gripped by fear. If we don’t act now, this epidemic will continue to grow, impacting every corner of our city. The urgency to address this issue has never been more apparent. 

Through the AP Foundation, we are committed to driving community-driven, education-first solutions that address both the symptoms and root causes of knife crime.

whos-next-campaign-team

Who’s Next? A Call to Action Against Youth Knife Crime in London

## Our fight against knife crime

__Amongst a backdrop of rising knife crime, the AP Foundation educates more young people about the dangers of knife crime than ever before
2022 was yet another tragic year for knife crime. From January to June 2022, knife crime has increased by 8% to 49,991 offences. This includes a rise in police recorded offences for the "possession of an article with a blade or point" which increased by 13%, to 22,340 offences.__

Education is important. Young people tell us every day that they think people carry knives "for protection".

Our mission is clear. We educate young people so that they can make positive choices to stay safe. Our award-winning workshops change young people’s attitudes to knife crime; debunking the myth that carrying a knife will protect you. They strengthen peer values; ensuring young people give better advice to each other and challenge peers who are carrying, or thinking of carrying a knife.

### In the academic year to August 2022, we educated 5,115 young people in our Choices & Consequences exhibitions - a new record!

As we re-opened our workshops following the pandemic closure, we were absolutely thrilled to welcome schools and young people back and to see our exhibitions busy again! October 2021 also saw the opening a brand new exhibition in Barking & Dagenham, which welcomed over 2,000 young people in the academic year!

With over 5000 young people visiting this academic year, it was our busiest and most successful year ever - a 28% increase on our previous best year (2019) bringing the total number of young people who have attended a Choices and Consequences workshop to 24,057!

We have been working with schools and youth support groups to educate children on the dangers of knife crime.

young-person-at-the-ben-kinsella-trust-workshop

Record breaking year for the AP Foundation

## Exhibition in Barking and Dagenham

Room 1 is the exhibition’s ‘Introduction to Choices and Consequences’ room; it contains an interactive cartoon that plays out the story of a young person who is bullied, who then chooses to go to a party where he knows the bully will be in attendance too. As they are fearful, they decide to take a knife, which they believe will protect them. The workshop then takes attendees through three different scenarios, all of which do not have the desired outcome.

What the room and cartoon emphasise is that a series of choices led to these undesirable outcomes. There is always a choice: a choice to carry the knife, a choice to tell someone, a choice to attend the party, a choice to drink at the party, a choice about who your friends are, and so on. Good choices are what keep you safe

![consequences-of-knife-crime-540x425](//images.ctfassets.net/5d9fcs3kukf6/6EiWL3p7Drk31npXZPwNac/7ae9d0c48f56672b6d3b1575e110a744/consequences-of-knife-crime-540x425.jpeg)

In Room 2, Ben Kinsella’s life is introduced. The room contains a collage of photos from Ben’s life: from family holidays, to his DJing, to birthday parties. ‘Ben’s room’ demonstrates that Ben was just like any other young person before he died: he supported Arsenal, he had a dog he loved, ‘Teddy’, and he had aspirations to become a graphic designer.

The ‘Cinema Room’, Room 3, is the first point at which the Exhibition introduces Ben’s death. The film shown is a difficult and emotive watch, but it is not intended to upset. The footage gives attendees a glimpse into the aftermath of losing someone to knife-crime. There are normally lots of questions (such as how did Ben survive for around 5 hours after the event?), and the workshop aims to answer those questions.

We explore the amazing new anti-knife crime exhibition inspired by Jodie Chesney and Ben Kinsella, two teens that tragically lost their lives to knife crime

jodie-chesney-duran-kajiama-540x425

A look inside the new anti-knife crime exhibition in Barking & Dagenham


## Enter the coupon code GREENWICH when booking

With thanks to generous funders in the Big Give campaign, we are able to offer 20 free knife crime prevention workshops for all schools based in Greenwich. But be quick, when they're gone, they're gone!

All of our programmes are heavily subsidised, but Greenwich schools pay nothing - a £260 workshop for you is now free! Simply enter the booking code GREENWICH when booking to receive your 100% discount.

Our exhibition based in Islington is a short walk from Farringdon underground station, now easily accessible from Woolwich and Abbey Wood via the Elizabeth line.

![prisoner-540x425](//images.ctfassets.net/5d9fcs3kukf6/3rR5ZHfKGm8TQbcyevDkay/4e78c10cfc70520e550a373ef0b90f3a/prisoner-540x425.jpeg)

## Over 5000 young people a year visit our workshops.

Our knife crime prevention workshops are delivered from our award-winning exhibition. Through a series of interactive and immersive experiences, young people follow the journey of both the victim and the offender. They take part in quizzes, immersive theatre, role play and activities, intrinsically designed to teach them how their choices can lead to positive consequences.

The award-winning workshops change young people’s attitudes to knife crime; debunking the myth that carrying a knife will protect you. They strengthen peer values; ensuring young people give better advice to each other and make positive choices to stay safe.


20 free knife crime prevention workshops for Greenwich schools

prisoner-540x425

 Free knife crime prevention workshops for Greenwich Schools

## Your donation DOUBLED!

__Donate between 29th November - 6th December and your donation will be doubled!__

This Christmas, make your donation count!

We are aiming to raise a massive £50,000 to help us to tackle knife crime in 2023! Any donation received via the Big Give campaign will be doubled!

## Please help us

__We are raising funds for our award-winning anti-knife crime workshops for children aged 10-16.__

Our workshops, based in London and Nottingham, teach young people how to make positive choices to stay safe. Young people move through 5 different themed rooms, guided by trained facilitators. We use a combination of age-appropriate role play, real life stories and quizzes to keep young people engaged.

Your donation will help educate thousands more young people and this Christmas, between 29th November and 6th December you will have TWICE the impact as your donation is DOUBLED!

We are aiming to raise a massive £50,000 to help us to tackle knife crime in 2023! Any donation received via the Big Give campaign will be doubled!


Our Work in the Media

Welcome to AP Foundation

Our call to action for volunteers

The story of Siddiq Bey

AP Foundation has partnered with training acadamies across the UK

Who’s Next? A Call to Action Against Youth Knife Crime in London

Record breaking year for the AP Foundation

A look inside the new anti-knife crime exhibition in Barking & Dagenham

Free knife crime prevention workshops for Greenwich Schools

The Big Give – One donation, double the impact

Latest News

Media Centre

Newsletter

Publications

Our Leadership Team

Support Our Work

Training

Volunteer - Fundraise - Campaign

Need help applying for jobs with a criminal record?

Interested in collaborating with us?