STOP & REACH Project Update Preventing Knife Crime in our City

MAV UK have completed another successful year of STOP & REACH Preventing Knife Crime support activities. The aim of the project is to ensure young people of all ages have access to pro-social activities throughout the week and over the weekend. MAV UK have been able to team up with Jet Black Academy, 42nd Street Youth Service, Dayna’s Kitchen and Art Therapist Olatunde to develop ideas which encourage young people to be creative in learning new skills and developing spaces in which they engage with others, in ways that will promotes positive change.

Arts & Crafts Day

Our Arts & Crafts Day was bursting with imagination and expression! From self-portrait art exploring identity, to dry clay creations and a vibrant teen-led anime art table, young people took the lead in shaping a joyful, creative space. In this special arts workshop with Art Therapist Olatunde, participants explored healing, identity, and emotion through gentle mark-making. The results—a collection of expressive, colourful artworks—offered a quiet glimpse into personal journeys and shared reflection.

Wearing her signature apron and a warm smile, Dayna from Dayna’s Kitchen led a hands-on vegan cooking workshop where we learned to make a simple, affordable chickpea curry—nutritious, full of flavour, and perfect for any household. This session was about more than food—it was about sharing knowledge, building confidence in the kitchen, and exploring plant-based living in an accessible way.

Dayna from Dayna’s Kitchen

MAV UK have focused our direct services on improving the mental health of young people and families. Over 120 therapy sessions have been accessed by young people. We have provided 78 different intervention for parents and introduced therapy session which include trauma based therapy EMDR, Mindfulness and Movement with Amina an inclusive workshops for people of all abilities.

Movement & Mindfulness with Amina

Young people have reported being more able to feel safe in environments with other young people. Reducing the need to feel they need to carry a weapon. Others have shared feeling healthy and fit, allowing them to access more pro-social activities. We have been encouraged by feedback from parents. They have said having children in a safe place for a few hours per week. Families reported improved home environments reducing conflict and creating space for better opportunities to engage in positive communication.

MAV UK will use the learning from the STOP & REACH Preventing Knife Crime Project to focus on training for staff and volunteers. Over the next 18 Months we will seek to develop additional space at Hulme Hall, reducing water waste in toilets and extending outside areas with modular building creating more space for activities and therapy sessions. The session were supported by National Lottery Funding.