Young people from Burnley FC in the Community, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, and Accrington Stanley Community Trust came together at The Leisure Box in East Lancashire for a day of education and activities aimed at raising awareness about the realities of crime and its consequences.
The event, part of the Violence Reduction Network’s (VRN) commitment to youth engagement, began with a powerful workshop and Q&A session led by Matthew Norford. Growing up in a community impacted by gang violence, Matthew became involved in crime at a young age, leading to gang involvement and time in prison.
After losing his brother to gang violence, Matthew turned his life around and now works to help young people understand consequences and the power of making different choices by sharing the harsh realities of crime and its impact.
After the workshop, participants enjoyed a lunch break before taking part in a football training session led by Burnley Champions Mentor, Chris. The day ended on a high note with a clip ‘n’ climb activity, providing a positive way for the young people to get to know each other.
Dave Oldfield, Operational Lead for the VRN, expressed his gratitude for the 
collaboration between the VRN and its community partners, saying: “We’re proud to fund events like this, which bring serious lessons to life in ways young people can really relate to. It wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible work of our Champions mentors from each trust who play a vital role in engaging and guiding these young people every step of the way. Together, we’re making sure education on these important topics sticks while also creating positive experiences.”
Chris Turner, Champions Mentor at Burnley FC in the Community added: “The collaborative approach taken by the three trusts allowed us to see clients from different areas interact and discuss key ideas from the event. Contextually, knife crime is a worrying occurrence which we are keen to educate our clients about.”
