Knowsley Council has been praised for leading the way in our approach to tackling and preventing serious violence and organised crime.
The Council has been described as “so far ahead” by other local authorities and agencies for our approach to early intervention and prevention work.
The Council’s approach has now been independently evaluated and recognised for its innovative approach.
Be the Change
At the forefront of this approach to early intervention is the Be the Change programme, led by the Council’s Safer Communities team.
The above video was first showcased at the From Evidence to Action: Breaking the Cycle of Violence across Merseyside’ conference, hosted by the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP) and Liverpool John Moores University’s Public Health Institute, where the Council was singled out for pioneering approach.
Funded by the MVRP, the Be the Change project launched in September 2024 with the aim of highlighting the positive opportunities open to women and girls in the borough, encouraging them to consider their own future potential and steer them away from those involved in serious and organised crime.
The project was inspired by a conversation with Julie Dale, mum of Ashley Dale – who was tragically murdered in August 2022. With men and boys traditionally being the focus when it comes to serious and organised crime, Julie felt that the potential impact on women and girls was not always considered and should be.
Unique ethos
Now extended to support young males, Be the Change is a unique project with an ethos of highlighting what people can be, rather than what they shouldn’t be, and encouraging them to fulfil their potential.
Since the programme launched more than 5,000 people in Knowsley have directly benefited from the Be the Change programme.
This has ranged from new mum’s receiving health and wellbeing support in Kirkby to young girls and boys benefiting from boxing and exercise sessions in the heart of Huyton Village.
Independent evaluation
In an in-depth independent evaluation carried out Liverpool John Moores University, the impact Be the Change has already had on our communities was recognised. The evaluation stated:
“The evaluation provides evidence that Be the Change is successfully establishing a borough-wide strengths-based movement in Knowsley. Through aligned partnerships, supportive environments and a shared ethos centred on hope, aspiration and empowerment, Be the Change is helping to create positive change across individuals, families, and communities.”
Zara Quigg, Professor in Public Health and Behavioural Epidemiology at Liverpool John Moores University and one of the authors of the independent evaluation, said: “As a Knowsley resident, I am so proud and happy and have so much respect for how the Be the Change project is shaping Knowsley into a better place, taking an evidenced focused, strength-based and trauma-informed approach.”
Francine McKeown, Service Manager from the Council’s Crime and Communities team. said: “We know the approach we’ve adopted with Be the Change is the approach that works. We have had so much positive feedback since we launched the programme. Through our partners we’ve reached thousands of people directly but the secondary beneficiaries of that intervention is even greater. Through the programme we believe we have positively impacted on more than half of Knowsley residents to date.”
Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “Thousands of people have already directly benefited from the Be the Change offer in Knowsley and the programme continues to grow. I’m so proud that Knowsley Council is delivering such a unique and innovative project, that is helping make a difference to so many lives.”