At FPC, we believe good financial planning is ultimately about people, families and the communities they are part of.
That is why we are proud to support #kNOwKnifeCrime, a campaign led by Laura Hughes to help young people make safe choices, take positive action and build confidence in their ability to help others.
Laura founded #kNOwKnifeCrime following the murder of her brother, Colin McGinty, who was killed in 2001 at the age of 21 in a case of mistaken identity. More than 20 years on, the campaign works with schools, families, and communities to help young people understand the consequences of knife crime, while creating positive, practical opportunities for education, confidence-building and prevention.
The campaign’s work continues to resonate strongly across the region. In communities such as Southport, where the impact of devastating violence has been so deeply felt in recent years, initiatives focused on education, prevention, wellbeing and positive action feel more important than ever.
This year, #kNOwKnifeCrime’s partnership with Southport Learning Trust helped raise £19,397 through a week of activity linked to the London Marathon, funding 65 Mini Medics first aid sessions for almost 2,000 children across the region.
Mini Medics is a first aid programme for children, introducing basic emergency response skills in an age-appropriate and practical way. The sessions help pupils build confidence, awareness and the ability to respond if someone needs help.
The fundraising campaign brought together pupils, teachers, families and local communities through a series of events focused on teamwork, wellbeing and positive action.
Schools across the Trust hosted their own Mini Marathon events, encouraging pupils of all ages to take part and support the campaign.
More than 200 pupils and teachers also participated in a school-to-school relay covering over 29 miles, travelling from Bedford Primary School in Bootle through Maghull and finishing at Kew Woods Primary School in Southport.
The week culminated in 60 pupils representing the Trust at the Mini London Marathon on The Mall in London, before four teachers completed the London Marathon itself the following day.
Together, the money raised will fund 65 Mini Medics sessions across Southport Learning Trust schools. With around 30 children attending each session, almost 2,000 pupils are expected to benefit.
Laura Hughes, Director of #kNOwKnifeCrime, said: “This has become so much bigger than marathon fundraising. It brings together schools, pupils, teachers, families and communities around something positive and practical. To know that the money raised will help almost 2,000 children access first aid education is incredible. These are skills that could genuinely make a difference.”
Ian Raikes, CEO of Southport Learning Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working in a strong and sustainable partnership with #kNOwKnifeCrime, aimed at ensuring we embody our Trust vision of empowering our community to have a positive impact on the world by educating our pupils to make safe choices and be able to help others and potentially save lives.”
As a North West business with deep roots in the communities we serve, FPC is pleased to help shine a light on work that brings people together and creates positive, practical impact for young people and families.
If you would like to learn more about the campaign or explore ways to support future activity, the #kNOwKnifeCrime team would be pleased to hear from you – smplyreachout to one of our team to be connected.