How Big Do You Feel?

Focus on Knife Crime

The story so far ...

Twelve road show meetings have taken place in schools around Ireland, featuring contributions from Community Gardaí and prominent role models. Radio DJs from youth-focussed radio stations in each area have attended the meetings to interview the role models concerned. The role models involved were:

  • North and West Dublin – Jason Sherlock, Dublin GAA
  • North Cork – Sean McGrath, ex-Cork County Hurler
  • Carlow – Paraic Almond, Shamrock Rovers, Ireland u21
  • South Dublin – Ross O’Carroll, Dublin Hurler
  • Limerick – Marcus Horan, Munster & Ireland
  • Galway - Damien Hayes, Galway Hurler
  • Louth - Denis McArdle, FIFA referee
  • Kerry - Kieran Donaghy, Kerry GAA
  • Mayo - David Brady, ex-Mayo GAA

These school meetings are just one part of the campaign that roles out in a selected locality. They are supported by smaller class meetings that are conducted by Community Gardaí and teachers are given follow-up exercise sheets, developed in consultation with the Department of Education, that help them to revisit the campaign message in the weeks and months following campaign meetings.

We have also had great support and help from the Copping On Project – an organisation that trains up 3,000 people to work with at-risk young people. Exercises dealing specifically with knife crime are now included in the materials used by social workers and others in Garda Youth Diversion programmes. This material has also been forwarded to Copping On’s Northern Irish counterpart, VOYPIC. The campaign therefore has the potential to reach every at-risk young person on the island of Ireland.

Community Gardaí nationwide will provide this awareness campaign in schools to transition year students in 2009/2010. Any group wishing to be provided with the presentation should contact their local Garda station or email pressoffice@garda.ie for further information.

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