Fearless.org, the youth service of the independent charity Crimestoppers – has launched a campaign to educate and empower young people in the London Borough of Westminster about the dangers and consequences of serious violence. The campaign, commissioned by Westminster City Council, features social media adverts targeted at young people across the borough.
As part of this campaign, Fearless is working in partnership with secondary schools, speaking directly to young people on how to report their concerns about crime, 100% anonymously. The interactive workshops, which will be led by outreach worker Kenya Lamb, are designed to engage young people to spread the Fearless message and help them better understand the consequences of crime and criminal activity.
Recent trends in serious youth violence have been on a rise in the recent year so Fearless are keen to engage with local partners, including Safer Schools officers and youth practitioners, to build on preventative measures – aimed at tackling youth violence and anti-social behaviour in the local area.
Kenya Lamb, Senior Fearless Outreach Worker for London, said: “Fearless.org offers a unique service guaranteeing 100% anonymity to young people who pass on what they know about crime via the charity’s website. I know that as a young person, there’s growing reluctance to report crime or give information to the police, so Fearless is here to debunk those fears. This campaign aims to let young people know, that they have options when reporting crime, empowering them to make better choices in their walk to adulthood.”
Cllr Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Communities and Regeneration at Westminster City Council said: “We are delighted to be working with Fearless to provide a safe service for young people to report information about crime securely. It’s vital every young person in Westminster knows help is available if they are affected by crime and we hope this campaign will break down barriers preventing young people from getting the help they need.
“As a council, we are committed to tackling crime and violence in the city. Partners such as Fearless are key to reaching out to our communities in Westminster and helping more people to stay safe.”
Cllr Timothy Barnes, Cabinet Member for Young People and Learning, added: “We believe every young person in Westminster has the right to feel safe growing up in our city. By working with Fearless, we hope to support young people to get to grips with crime and safety on their own terms and improve their security and wellbeing.”
