DONT JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER
On Saturday 12th February, I was asked to attend and photograph an event for the launch of a book Carlton Leach - The Final Say.
Being a Kent girl I was not really aware of the Rise of the Foot Soldiers story, but my partner an Essex Lad soon updated me on who, what where and when.
But this is not about Carlton, sorry, this is about some of the most amazing people I met that night.
Paul, Scott & Ash
Now this is very much the biker scenario, you might meet these guys out in the street they are well built guys with tattoos, some on and around their face. BUT don't judge a book by its cover.
These three men are helping with the fight against knife crime that is an issue in all our lives these days, gone are the days when people sorted things out with a fist fight, now sometimes for absolutely no reason you get stabbed !
The national statistics are that 2 out of 10 children will either be a victim of knife crime or the offender, now that is thought provoking. We would all like to think that our children would not do this, but sometimes we as parents can miss the signs.
Paul, Scott and Ash - are helping to raise awareness of this to teachers, kids and parents, help them to look for the signs your child is carrying a knife, what they can do if they think a friend is carrying a knife.
These guys have first hand experience of he devastation that knife crime can have, from losing a brother to a stabbing to having a best friend die in their arms.
They led a life that many of us have not experienced, but a life that some have, with gang issues in areas some of them were raised in and being involved as kids with things they seek now to try to change and educate others about. Life has taught them both sides of the coin and here they stand now educating others from both sides.
They have a club Jab not Stab, encouraging young people to get involved in more worthwhile things, something to channel their issues and putting other activities in place to take these young ones away from that world, show them that there are other choices in life, different decisions that can be made.
They were genuinely nice, honest people with a sense of humour but very focused about their mission and drive and I would encourage any teachers, schools, youth clubs, kids groups to get involved to help raise awareness of this issue taking over our children.
They are not men with Tattoos they are men with a message that we all need to open our ears and listen to!
