A series of social media videos has been released this month by Haringey Council to highlight young people’s experience of crime.
The series, titled #HeartsNotKnives, was produced by and for young people in collaboration with the council and participatory drama company Rank & File Theatre.
The young videomakers, all of them participants in the council’s Project 2020 initiative in Northumberland Park, produced the series earlier this year, with videos focusing on issues such as the impact of crime on mental health, the challenges of growing up in an area with high levels of deprivation, and the importance of positive activities in helping young people stay on the right path.
Cllr Adam Jogee, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, and Cllr Zena Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said:
“We are committed to working together with our communities to bring about the positive changes we all want to see. This project is a great example of exactly that, and amplifying the voices of those who we don’t always hear from.
“The videos remind us of the adversity faced by many of our young people. But they also show the importance of positive activities in helping them steer clear of crime. That is something we have been actively investing in, and hope the videos can help more young people find and engage with these opportunities.”
The project was funded by the Mayor of London’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) as part of a £110K programme to tackle robbery and youth crime in the borough. Other activities carried out as part of the programme have included free sports sessions, youth outreach work in transport hubs and installation of CCTV cameras and signage in high-crime areas.
Watch the videos on the Haringey Youthspace Instagram account.
