“Listen without judging”: Young people share reflections for Knife Crime Awareness Week 2026

Every year around 200 people lose their lives to knife crime, and half of all teenage children change their behaviour because they are afraid of knife crime and violence. If we are going to change that, we must actively listen to young people.

To mark Knife Crime Awareness Week 2026, our Youth Advisory Board (YAB) shared their thoughts and experiences on what works, and how we can best support young people affected by knife crime. 

Knife crime has become a defining part of how we talk about and understand the impact violence has on young people and the devastating consequences it has on them, their families, and the communities around them. Figuring out what can be done to stop knife crime is therefore an integral part of our mission. But, as one of our YAB members put it, success cannot be entirely measured by “crime statistics, but by whether young people feel safer, more supported and more hopeful about their future.”

Lessons from young people on how to prevent knife crime? 

We asked YAB, “What is your message to those who support young people affected by knife crime?” – Here’s what they told us:

Reach young people before they reach crisis.

Early intervention is important because young people affected by knife crime may not openly talk about fear, grief, or trauma

Evidence from our Violence Reduction Toolkit finds that on average trauma-specific therapies reduced crime and violence for children and young people at-risk of involvement by 45%. Because of the limited number of studies, our confidence is very low, but these findings are nevertheless promising.

Create space, emotionally and physically.

Having safe spaces where young people can talk openly, feel respected, and access opportunities is really important. Support should be long term not just after something serious has already happened.

In our Youth work and violence prevention guidance, recommendation 2 cites the need to “close the most urgent gaps in youth club access”. Research by Carmen Villa found that in London neighbourhoods most affected by the closure of youth clubs children aged 10 to 17 years old were 14% more likely to commit crimes.

Listen, don’t judge.

Sometimes adults only focus on the behaviour and not what’s behind it. Youth workers and trusted adults need to build real relationships and consistency. Young people can tell when someone genuinely cares versus when they’re just doing a job.

Our Youth Work and Violence Prevention guidance recommends offering vulnerable children and young people at least six months of weekly, one-to-one mentoring by safe, trained adults. Mentoring programmes work best when mentors receive proper training, regular supervision, specialist support, and when they stay committed over time. Clear referral pathways, careful matching between mentors and mentees, and parental awareness also support programme effectiveness.

Young people’s voices shaping knife crime policy

Last month the Government published their plan on how they intend to halve knife crime over the next decade. It is a plan built on evidence and young people’s voices. It draws directly on the Youth Endowment Fund’s Violence Prevention Toolkit and reflects the priorities young people have raised today: early intervention before crisis, safe spaces where young people feel supported, and genuine, non-judgemental relationships with trusted adults.

If you want to know our full reaction to the Government’s plan to halve knife crime, you can view our statement.