Value Life

We campaign to raise awareness and re-educate the community about the dangers of gun and knife crime.

Who we are

Initially 9 students, now the entire student body.

Where we're based

Tottenham, London

When we started

Jul-04

How we started

We set up our project in response to rising numbers of gun crime, and in 2006 we included the issues of knife crime. We began as a group of nine students and two teachers from Gladesmore Community School after taking part in training from the Citizenship Foundation's Youth Act. We identified key issues in our local community and developed a campaign. Four years on we are working with other local schools.

Our work

We hold year round school assemblies, leading to the issue of gun and knife crime being included in the curriculum. In 2005 we held a march to raise the campaign's profile - it's now an annual event, with 2,000 students involved in 2008. We gained media support by inviting MP David Lammy and Rev Nims Obunge to march. Choice FM also came on board with support. Through working with other schools, peers and adult supporters our campaign is reaching the whole borough.

Future plans

We plan to create a newspaper and an e-campaign in order to reach more people, including training on this and our website. We are keen to develop a peer teaching programme in both primary and secondary schools. *Update* In 2010 we produced and premiered Value Life: The Movie. Check out the trailer on our website.