Calls grow for youth centre in Birmingham after teenager's death
14 year old Dea-John Reid was stabbed in the city
Last updated 22nd Jun 2021
Calls are growing for a new youth centre to help tackle violence in Birmingham. It comes after the death of 14 year old Dea-John Reid who was stabbed in Kingstanding on 31st May. Speaking in the days after, his mother, Joan Morris, said "I sent him to play football and he didn't come home". Now efforts to help keep young people safe in the city are being stepped up.
Family friend, Michelle Helsby, is behind the calls to get a youth centre in the city. It's something she's been trying to do ever since the death of her son's friend, 15 year old Keon Lincoln, who was shot and stabbed in Handsworth in January 2021.
_"I told the police and I spoke to the council...back in January, February when Keon got killed. And I said to them, when are you going to help people like us? When we lose a 14 year old or a 13 year old? Not even six months later, Dea-John's gone."_
It's hoped another youth centre will give young people a safe place to go, to have fun with their friends, and off the streets where they could get into trouble. In an exclusive interview with us, Michelle says;
"I fear for my kids. These knives and bullets don't discriminate, we're scared to let our kids out on the street because we don't know if they're going to come back. We can't let kids be kids in our areas, there's nowhere safe for them to go."
Since hearing about the death of Dea-John, Michelle is asking local authorities to help support the community, which she says feels ignored, in these calls. Michelle told us her vision for the centre if it becomes a reality...
"I want music studios, boxing gyms...I want education blocks where if they're struggling in school they can come and get their work up to date. Let's do some gang affiliation courses, counselling...Day trips, a lot of these kids have never been to the seaside...let their feet touch the water. Simple things we can do to provide for these kids, but because they've got nothing there, they can't do it."
Five people have been charged with the murder of Dea-John Reid.