Fear and Fashion was originally a report by Lemos&Crane published in 2004 and commissioned by the City Bridge Trust that looked at the use of knives and weapons by young people.

Based on research with practitioners from schools, the police, youth offending teams and other agencies, the report identified two main motivations for young people carrying knives and weapons: fear (of being attacked) and fashion (the attraction of belonging to a group or gang, the members of which carried knives or weapons).

To take forward the recommendations of the report, The City Bridge Trust, City Parochial Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Wates Foundation and John Lyon's Charity have jointly funded the following initiatives:

• Four exemplar projects in London: working with different aged groups of young people in different areas and contexts to tackle knife and weapons culture
• A knowledge website: to collate and disseminate learning from these exemplar projects and other initiatives to support practitioners, parents and young people themselves.

These initiatives are supported by the funders in accordance with the following key values:

• Using action-based evidence to develop and promote constructive alternatives to knife culture amongst young people in the UK
• Taking an independent approach, working with all parts of the community and its agencies, and valuing young people
• Promoting debate at all levels to challenge and change the causes of knife culture for victims and all others in scoiety.

What are the exemplar projects?

• Kickstart YIP / Crime Concern - working in Lambeth and Southwark to decrease the use of knives by young people whilst also raising awareness of the problems and consequences of carrying knives
• Leap Confronting Conflict - working in North Westminster to create a new project in a school with the aim to provide evidence that intensive group work and training in conflict management is a successful intervention to help prevent the use of weapons and violence
• Rainer / Catch22 - working in Brent to reduce the carrying of knives by young people who have committed offences involving knives or at risk of being involved in carrying or using knives
• Working with Men - working in North Westminster and South Brent to reduce the use and carrying of knives and other weapons by young people, to support victims, and to provide positive alternatives and long-term change

What is the intended outcome of the work?

To develop a bank of knowledge and experience that supports practitioners (teachers, youth workers, police officers and others), parents, and young people themselves to understand how they can influence and change the behaviour of young people who:

• Feel frightened or bullied and are at risk of carrying a knife
• Are associating with a group or gang who carry knives and are at risk of carrying a knife
• Already carry knives, even if they have not been convicted of a criminal offence.

Where can you get more information about Fear and Fashion?

For more information about the Fear and Fashion website, please contact us by email.

For more information about the exemplar projects, or about the overall aims and objectives of the Fear and Fashion initiative, contact City Bridge Trust.