73,000 Boost to Youth Safety Programme Aims to Tackle Knife Crime and Exploitation

A school-based programme helping young people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight avoid exploitation and knife crime has received a funding boost of over £73,000, thanks to Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones.

The Choices programme, which supports pupils in Years 6 and 7 (ages 10–12), has now secured funding until March 2026, bringing the total investment in the initiative to £360,000.

Designed to support children during the critical transition from primary to secondary school, Choices equips them with the skills and confidence to make safe, informed decisions. The programme includes teacher training, classroom-based sessions, and theatre-led workshops, delivered by Artswork in collaboration with BearFace Theatre.

Since its launch, Choices has reached 7,665 pupils and 445 school staff across 92 schools in the region. Evaluation data shows strong results, with 92% of staff reporting increased confidence and 90% feeling more capable of using creative strategies to address risks such as knife crime, county lines, and child exploitation.

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said the funding extension reflects her ongoing commitment to early intervention in the fight against serious youth violence.

“It is vital that we help these young people to make the right choices at a time of great change in their lives. I am delighted to be able to extend the reach of this Choices programme into the new school year.

“Research shows that children in Year’s 6 and 7 are more likely to disengage from education and because of that, they are more vulnerable to exploitation or getting involved in crime.

“Knife crime, gang violence and county lines drug operations are all risks for children at this age if they make the wrong decisions.”

Rather than relying on scare tactics, the programme focuses on empowering children to recognise risky situations, resist peer pressure, and seek help from trusted adults. The emphasis is on long-term sustainability, with school staff trained to deliver the content to future student cohorts.

The initiative also promotes a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach. It trains staff not only to spot warning signs of exploitation but also to support children who come forward with concerns.

Choices is part of a wider prevention strategy coordinated by the PCC’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), which brings together education, police, and community services to tackle the root causes of serious violence.

“This innovative Choices programme aims to reduce that risk, while enabling children to make healthy decisions, build positive relationships and respond in the right way when facing potentially risky situations,” said Jones.

With the new funding now secured, the programme will continue supporting more young people and school staff across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight through the next academic year.