Arsenal launch initiative to combat knife crime and youth violence

'No More Red' is an initiative between Arsenal and adidas which aims to keep young people away from knife crime and youth violence.

2021 was the worst year on record for youth homicides in London with 30 young lives lost. Between June 2020 and June 2021 there were more than 10, 000 knife crime offences.

As part of the campaign, which is being supported actor Idris Elba and Arsenal legend Ian Wright, the London club is replacing the iconic red home shirt with an entirely white kit. This will be worn on Sun 9th Jan in the Emirates FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.

The kit will never be commercially available and will only ever be awarded to individuals who are making a positive difference in the community. The club say they hope the shirt becomes a symbol of positivity in the community, given to individuals and organisations who are giving back to the community and creating a positive environment for young people.

Following the game, the ten shirts worn by outfield players have been gifted to organisations doing work in the community to address some of the root causes of knife crime and youth violence. These organisations are

• Arsenal in the Community

• The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation

• Steel Warriors

• Don’t Stab Your Future (DSYF)

• Box Up Crime

• Copenhagen Youth Project

• St Giles Trust

• Abianda

• Octopus Community Network

• The Ben Kinsella Trust

Ian Wright MBE said:

“Every young person deserves the opportunity to express themselves. The opportunity to exist within a safe environment. The opportunity to live free from fear of violence. We can never accept loss of life through youth violence as ‘normal’ in our city and it’s so important that we all work together to create a better environment for young people.

“By giving young people more places to play sport, more support, and access to individuals who can inspire them, together we can help make a difference to young people in London.”

Idris Elba, founder of Don’t Stab Your Future and mentor as part of No More Red said: “From the time young people leave school, until the time they’re at home with family, there is often a void, a dangerous spike of nothing to do, where nothing can easily turn to something dangerous.

“If there continues to be no options for this after-school period, we will always see gangs form. Let’s create options for these young people.”

[news]