Gloucestershire Cricket backs campaign against knife crime

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (Gloucestershire CCC) says it believes sport "plays a powerful role in driving social change" as the club gives its backing to a campaign against knife crime across the West Country.

A bleed control cabinet has been installed at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol today (11th February) as the club gives its backing to the city's Bin the Blade campaign, urging young people not to carry weapons.

It comes as there have been several high profile stabbings in the past year or more, which have led to the deaths of young people across Bristol and Bath including Eddie King Muthemba Kinuthia (19), Ben Moncrieff (18), Mikey Roynon (16), Max Dixon (16), Darrian Williams (16) and Mason Rist (15). Many other incidents while thankfully not fatal, have left people seriously injured.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire CCC said: "Gloucestershire Cricket is proud to support the Bin the Blade campaign, which aims to raise awareness and take a stand against knife crime.

"As a Club we are deeply committed to promoting safety, respect and positive change in our community."

The news comes little over a year after Max Dixon and Mason Rist were fatally stabbed in Knowle West in a case of mistaken identity.

Five people are now serving life sentences for their murders, while last month the families of both boys came together to plant English Oak trees in their memory.

Meanwhile in just a few days the family of Darrian Williams will mark one year since he was attacked in Easton's Rawnsley Park, on Valentines Day 2024.

Gloucestershire CCC said: "We recognise the devastating impact that knife crime has on individuals, families and communities and we believe that sport plays a powerful role in driving social change.

"Through our partnership with this campaign, we aim to encourage young people to make positive choices, promote non-violence and inspire others to be part of the solution."

Behind the Bin the Blade campaign is Leanne Reynolds, originally from Knowle West, who works with the Daniel Baird Foundation to get bleed control kids distributed across the West Country. She calls herself a big cricket fan.

Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio at Gloucestershire CCC while the kit was installed she said: "It feels amazing this one.

"This has been in partnership with South West Tools (Hire), Leigh Edward's and (the) Gloucester(shire) Cricket Ground. I've done speeches here for Walkers and Talkers and to have it here, and them to actually work alongside (me). It means a lot to me."

"We've always said it, we have to have a direction for the young people.

"We need to find something that young people like to try and get them away from knife crime and a sport is ideal. Not every child wants to do boxing or football and now we've got this opportunity to bring them into the cricket world, which means a lot to me."

To date the Bin the Blade campaign has seen 42 bleed control kits handed out across Bristol and Bath, ten of which are in cabinets in public places, funded by our charity Cash for Kids.

You can find out more about the campaign via this link.

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