The 2021 Diocese of London Lent Appeal will focus on Youth Violence.
Youth violence, which is prevalent in London, is the intentional use of physical force or power to threaten or harm others by young people aged between 10-24 years. It typically involves young people hurting peers who are unrelated to them and who they may or may not know well. Youth violence can include fighting, bullying, threats with weapons, and gang-related violence. A young person can be involved with youth violence as a victim, offender, or witness.
- In England and Wales there were 47,349 Police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the 12 months to June 2020 [1]
- There has been an 85% increase in knife crime in England and Wales since 2014 (comparing the 12 months from Jun 19 to Jul 20, with 12 months from Apr 13 to Mar 14)
- 24 children aged just 17 or younger were murdered with a knife or sharp object in 2019. This represents the highest number of children murdered in over a decade.
The lent appeal, which begins on Wednesday 17 February, will focus on both raising awareness of the issue, and raising money for three charities that challenge it.
[1] Statistics from benkinsella.org.uk