This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council on behalf of Slough Children First for the attention of all schools. 
This week it is the national “Sceptre” week - when police forces across the country look to promote the availability of knife amnesty bins.
The Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership is keen to promote an opportunity for all parents and carers - free online information sessions run by leading national anti-knife crime charity The Ben Kinsella Trust.
There are two sessions free to anyone to sign-up and join – Tuesday 12 November and Thursday 21 November, both 6.30pm-8.30pm.
Each session, led by an expert trainer from The Ben Kinsella Trust, explores the risk factors behind knife crime - from issues such as exploitation, county drug lines, online harm. They also look at how it is fear - and not knowing who to ask for help - that often leads to young people carrying knives for their own “protection”. The sessions seek to give parents confidence on spotting the signs and symptoms that something isn’t right, and how to have those difficult conversations.
As part of the “Stay True to You” campaign – the sessions explore how trusted adults can help support young people to make their own positive choices for their own, and their friend’s, safety. Each session is two hours, held online via Zoom. Advance registration is required and sign up can be done via the Stay True to You website: www.staytruetoyou.co.uk/parents
Every primary and secondary school in the Thames Valley has also received a hard copy of the Stay True to You pack and is being asked to promote these parent sessions too.
Thames Valley Police is also promoting the availability of knife amnesty bins across the force area as safe places to dispose of weapons, with no questions asked and no details taken. For information on the locations of bins, visit the Thames Valley Police website.
Jules Bottazzi, Director of Strategy & Performance, Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner, said:
“Knife crime is a huge concern for many parents and we have been working to help raise awareness of the issues so that together we can help keep young people safe.
“We’ve partnered with the leading national charity The Ben Kinsella Trust to deliver these sessions for some months, with hundreds of parents benefiting to date and many leaving fantastic feedback.
“We want to encourage as many parents as possible to take the time to join one of these sessions wherever they can.”