Barking and Dagenham Council has teamed up with local schools and organisations to launch a new phase of its hard-hitting Lost Hours campaign

The new phase kicked off with an event hosted by Dagenham Park CofE School, where young people and parents heard powerful speeches from Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of the Council, the borough’s Young Mayor Zubin Burley and Stephen Addison, CEO of social youth organisation, Box Up Crime. 

The audience watched a moving short film, featuring local people, including Peter Chesney and Beatrice Mushiya, who tragically lost children to knife attacks, and learned more about local support organisations and providers.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Darren Rodwell, said: “Youth violence is a problem across London, and we want to tackle the issue head-on.

“We know that the Lost Hours campaign is hard-hitting and tough to look at, but it has to be, people need to take notice of this issue and the life changing consequences of knife crime.

“It doesn’t have to be this way, there are more positive paths that kids can take and I’m proud to say that there are so many great things for young people to do in our borough.”

A borough-wide advertising campaign follows the launch event, featuring the campaign’s hard-hitting artwork, co-designed with parents, young people and school staff from across the borough. 

Headteacher at Dagenham Park CofE School, Chris Ash, added: “We do everything we can to keep young people safe, including educating them on how to stay safe on the other side of the school gates.

“We’re supporting the council’s Lost Hours campaign because we don’t want any more young lives to be ruined by youth violence.”