Last month, more than 250 people attended a special event to address knife crime at Leeds’ North Church, Kirkstall.
More than 70 young performers took to the stage in a 90-minute showcase featuring dance, music, spoken word, art and fashion. The showcase was coordinated by Salome Tirado, a consultant at PwC, who was awarded the 2024 UNiDAYS student woman of the year. Salome received a £10,000 grant for her YouTube show “Tones”:
The voice of Gen Z, Salome created the event ‘What happened to my arm?” inspired by Vilson Duarte Dong’s real story of resilience and transformation. Once incarcerated for a knife-related incident, Vilson now uses his experience to advocate against knife crime and inspire positive change. The unique production aims to challenge stereotypes and celebrate the talents of young people, particularly those of colour.
Figures released by the Office For National Statistics in October reveal that knife-enabled crime in England and Wales has risen by 4% in the year ending June 2024, with police recording 50,973 offences.
Salome Tirado: “We’re creating a platform for a generation of talent, resilience and positive change. Our goal is to shift the conversation away from gang-related stereotypes and towards the incredible potential of our youth. Our performers did us proud. I’m still in so much awe, I can’t express my gratitude to everyone involved in this powerful performance.”