The Emergency Department (ED) at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) has been awarded a National Youth Anti-Violence Educational Award.
The award was given to the emergency department for their work within Luton and Bedfordshire to address the national knife crime problem, as well as the support they provided in assisting the UK tour of the National Monument Against Violence & Aggression – known as the Knife Angel.
The team were nominated for the award by Luton Borough Council and Wingman Mentors, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering and supporting young people across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Michelle Kane, Operations Director for Wingman Mentors, said: “It was an honour to nominate the Emergency Department at the L&D for this award. As a community organisation working with young people at risk of serious violence, we frequently intersect with the ED’s efforts. We’re acutely aware of the critical role they play in preventing young people from returning with life-threatening injuries or, tragically, losing their lives.”
David Kirby, ED Consultant and Deputy Medical Director, and Amir Reyahi, Emergency Medicine Specialist, were named as being instrumental in advocating for violence prevention. This includes their involvement during the Knife Angel visit in August and David Kirby’s work with Bedfordshire’s Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit (VERU) on the Just Drop It campaign, encouraging young people to surrender knives.
David Kirby said: “Amir, myself and indeed our entire Emergency Department family have been undertaking work with local charities, agencies, anti-violence groups and young people for many years in our passion to reduce the number of our children who are affected by violence, and particularly knife crime. We both see it as our duty to not only treat those who become injured, but also to do our best to prevent those injuries in the first place. To have this recognised makes us honoured and very proud to be part of our team. We are humbled to be nominated by Wingman Mentors, and look forward to continuing our great work together.”
The Knife Angel is a 27 foot sculpture crafted from 100,000 seized blades. The sculpture is a visual reminder of the impact of violent crime and emphasises the importance of multi-agency working in the national fight to reduce knife crime. It’s currently touring the UK and visited Luton in August 2024.
The safeguarding team visited the sculpture in Luton town centre in August, accompanied by the St Giles ED Navigator service.
The ED navigator service is based across Bedford and the L&D, and was implemented in April 2024. The service aims to support individuals aged 10 – 25 years whom present to the hospital with contextual safeguarding concerns which can include knife injuries, assault and exploitation.