Charity Launches Knock Out Plan to Tackle Knife Crime
By Jill Dando News
The Salvation Army in Huddersfield is supporting an incredible youth project that raises awareness of the dangers of knife crime while offering positive activities for young people.
The ‘Fists over Knives’ project, which engages children as young as five, uses boxing to teach valuable life lessons about staying healthy, avoiding dangerous behaviors, and making smart choices.
The eight-week course, funded by The Salvation Army and run by Mark Reynolds (affectionately known as Baldy), takes place at the RABC Boxing Gym in Milnsbridge.
It’s part of a youth group run by Katie Thompson, who owns Katie’s Homemade Kitchen in Marsden.
Majors Ade and Chris Lee, who lead the Huddersfield Salvation Army, are present at every session to support the kids, most of whom are aged between seven and 11, with some younger children attending with their parents.
Baldy explains that boxing is a fun and effective way to engage kids while delivering important messages. “Boxing is one of the hardest sports, and it helps maintain a healthy weight, improve agility and mobility, and release frustration. It also gives kids a mental release and helps them manage daily pressures,” he says. “Even the parents are taking on these messages. You can see it in the way a four-year-old repeats back the importance of not carrying knives—it’s really sinking in.”
Parents are noticing the positive impact.
One parent shared, “My kids love it. It’s definitely helped with their confidence. My daughter has really come out of her shell since she started. It’s not just about boxing—it’s about talking about ‘fists over knives’ and starting the conversation early.”
Katie Thompson, who brings members of her youth group to the sessions, adds, “It’s thanks to The Salvation Army that we’re able to offer this to the kids. You can see how engaged they are, and it’s so important to talk about knife crime. If it stops one of them from getting hurt or hurting someone else, it’s worth it.”
