GUN and knife violence by young people, some barely in their teens,

has scarred Britain in the 21st Century.

It is rare that a week goes by without reports of another death. Politicians proclaim the issue is high on their agenda. They say they are listening to the victims.

But as far as the parents who have lost loved ones to guns and knives and gang violence are concerned, not enough has been done.

They want the killings to stop; for them, the continued violence shows their voices are not being heard or listened to.

In 2008, two families who have suffered tragedies decided to combine forces, and to recruit others, for a new approach. They are the families of Damilola Taylor, the ten-year-old whose death in 2000 generated a huge public debate, and of Robert Levy, a brave 16-year-old who was stabbed to death defending a younger boy in Hackney, in east London, in 2004.

With the help of the Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI), the philanthropic organisation, they launched Through UNITY, which will become a national charity by the end of 2008.

Through UNITY's core philosophy is simple: to unite families, so their one voice is louder and CANNOT BE IGNORED.

Through Unity is a coalition. Its founders and members have nothing but praise for the work of other families and groups working towards the same aim. They do not want to ‘take over’, or absorb, any existing organisations. They will, however, work tirelessly to create as wide and strong a coalition is possible. It will not be a quick or easy road to travel. The Taylor and Levy families understand this, as do the more recent recruits to Through UNITY. But they are united in a belief that education will raise young people out of the culture of guns, knives, gangs and violence.

Through UNITY activities include:

to support families we will:

• Be there for families in their time of need when they are experiencing the impact of gun and knife crime – after each incident the group will make contact with the family in a sensitive way to offer support through empathy and understanding either by a personal visit or a simple telephone call.
• Provide written information to families that will help them through the initial few weeks after the death of their child.
• Provide on-line information and support to families and communities that have been affected through the Unity website.
• Support projects that are initiated by families and the community to address the root causes of gun and knife crime.

to deliver a response to communities we will:

• Develop a language that connects at a street level
• Respond effectively to the issues facing our communities
• Give a voice to those affected by gun and knife crime by empowering them to work within their communities to effect change.

to develop young people we will:

• Provide mentors, role models that inspire young people to strive to be the best they can be for themselves, for their families and for their communities. To deliver inspirational events that raise awareness of opportunities
• Through the website provide information on positive parenting
• Offer learning opportunities for parents to come together to share and solve problems
• To advocate on behalf of communities on issues that affect them directly, through canvassing their views, offering ‘expert’ opinion and advice and organising a collective response.

to change lives we will:

• Campaign for cultural change

• Positively influence local and national government on behalf of communities and families
• Develop and execute public awareness activities that focus attention on the issues surrounding gun and knife crime in the UK

NO TO KNIVES, NO TO GUNS, NO TO GANGS 

If you are interested in what we do or would like to contact us, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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