Knife Angel to visit North Northamptonshire

19 April 2022

A nationally recognised anti-violence sculpture will visit Corby from 14 - 29 May as part of a countrywide tour.

The sculpture will be on public display on Corporation Street, Willow Place, Corby, having first visited Northampton and Wellingborough.

The Knife Angel is a sculpture designed by artist Alfie Bradley, in partnership with the British Ironworks Centre and is also known as the National Monument Against Violence & Aggression.

The sculpture, made from over 100,000 seized blades, was specifically created to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour and act as a memorial to the victims and families affected by knife crime and other forms of violence/aggression. The sculpture travels across the UK to educate children, young people and adults about the harmful effect violence has on communities.

Unfortunately knife crime remains a serious issue in communities across the country, as well as closer to home. I hope that by having the Knife Angel visit North Northamptonshire we can further highlight the devastating impact knife crime can have.

To coincide with the Knife Angel’s visit, our teams have been working closely with partners including Northamptonshire Police, local schools and community groups on a series of events and activities, so please do keep an eye out for further information and details.Cllr Andy Mercer, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Community at North Northamptonshire Council

The Knife Angel is a stark symbol that highlights the devastating impact knife crime can have on individuals, families and communities. I am pleased to fund the sculpture’s visit to Northamptonshire as reducing knife crime is a priority for me and the sculpture creates a focal point to raise awareness and educate young people about the dangers of carrying a weapon.

I have promised to tackle the root causes of knife crime in the county and provide financial support for early intervention and prevention activities. I will also deliver robust enforcement campaigns to reduce the number of knives on our streets to make the county safer.Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold

I hope that the Knife Angel’s presence will bring unity across the county, highlight all the amazing work that is already being done by CIRV, Eve, Sunflower Centre, Police, Off the Street - NN, and so many more voluntary sector organisations, including churches, to make this county a safer place to live.

The Knife Angel campaign is looking for 10,000 people across the county to sign up to be ‘Anti Violence Ambassadors’, with a pledge to turn away from violence and aggression as a solution to disagreements and conflicts.Angie Kennedy, CEO of C2C Social Action

The Knife Angel is on a countrywide tour and the Northamptonshire leg of the tour is being overseen by C2C Social Action, a Northamptonshire based Christian charity that offers practical and pastoral support to offenders. The countywide tour will kick off with the sculpture arriving in Northampton for a 2-week period from 29 April – 13 May, before stopping briefly in Wellingborough on 14 May (for a visit arranged by the Off the Street – NN campaign) and then proceeding to Corby.

A programme of events and activities will take place during the visit and will be confirmed nearer the time.

Further information about the Knife Angel will be available on the NNC website and social media in the coming weeks.