Oledzki backs new city campaign to reduce serious youth violence

Leeds Rhinos are throwing their weight behind a campaign of education and awareness around knife crime which is running in the city during February following the arrival of the Knife Angel sculpture. 

Leeds Rhinos player Mikolaj Oledzki joined Leeds Rhinos Foundation CEO Bob Bowman for the launch of Project Shield, which is the city’s co-ordinated response to knife crime, based on a more positive and hopeful conversation with young people, underpinned by a strong partnership approach to identify and protect those most at risk.

Oledzki is fronting a new campaign video talking about the impact of knife crime and the negative effects of violent behaviour and the need for change.  The video will be played in front of 15,000 people at AMT Headingley Stadium when Leeds Rhinos play their opening game of the 2024 Betfred Super League season.  Children from Whinmoor Warriors will also be attending the game wearing special t-shirts with the slogan in support of Safer Leeds’ Project Shield campaign.

Oledzki will be working with Leeds Rhinos Foundation during the year to back their work to reduce youth violence with several educational projects set to be delivered by the charity with school children.

In February the Knife Angel sculpture can be seen at the Royal Armouries.  The 27ft tall figure, created from over 100,000 seized blades by the British Ironwork Centre and its arrival in the city heralds a comprehensive programme of activity, led by the city’s community safety partnership Safer Leeds and supported by the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership, to engage and educate young people as part of the city’s continued response to serious youth violence.

A free programme of learning opportunities is running throughout the month with secondary schools given the opportunity to book in for specialist learning sessions at the Royal Armouries Museum.

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council's executive member for resources with responsibility for Safer Leeds, said: “As a city we take knife crime and violence in general very seriously and it’s something we and our partners work hard to address with young people and their parents or guardians.”

Leeds District Commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Dodds, said: “The root causes and driving factors around young people involved in knife crime are much wider than policing alone and it is only through everyone across our communities playing their part that we will continue to make progress.”

West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, said: “We each play a crucial role in turning the tide on knife crime and rejecting those behaviours that can lead to unimaginable heartbreak for families and communities.”

Leeds Rhinos player Mikolaj Oledzki said: “It’s a very important campaign for us to support and it is pleasing to see leaders from across the city who are collaborating to educate people about this serious issue.  The number of crimes involving knives is increasing and it is important that we listen to young people to understand why they are carrying knives and how we can help them make different choices.”

Leeds Rhinos Foundation Chief Executive, Bob Bowman, said: “I think one of the key messages about this campaign is education and that is something our charity will be getting behind.  We are proud to be part of a city-wide initiative where we are all united in helping to make Leeds a safer place to live and grow up.”

To view the campaign video with Mikolaj Oledzki visit https://youtu.be/_2-Ng0RXjro

·       To pass on information about knife crime anonymously, visit www.fearless.org