New bleed kits and life-saving training launched for Knife Crime Awareness Week

Brent is stepping up action for Knife Crime Awareness Week (18–24 May 2026), with new life-saving equipment, free public training, and a dedicated youth event aimed at preventing serious violence.

Two new bleed kits have been installed at Roundwood School and Community Centre in Harlesden and the Unity Centre on Church Road, giving local people access to vital equipment that can help save lives in an emergency.

Bleed kits contain first aid equipment to help control severe bleeding. These latest installations build on a growing network of kits already in place across the borough, including at Neasden Subway, Boxpark Wembley and Kilburn Bridge, strengthening Brent’s commitment to making communities safer and more prepared.

As part of the week, residents are invited to attend free, hands-on training sessions to learn how to respond in an emergency. The sessions cover when to call 999, how to use a bleed kit, and how to act quickly and safely under pressure. They can be booked online via EventBrite:

• Kilburn workshop
78 Granville Road, NW6 5RA
Tuesday 19 May, 1pm – 4pm

• Neasden workshop
Crest Academy, NW2 7SN
Tuesday 19 May, 5.30pm – 8pm

• Wembley workshop
The Base, Brent Civic Centre (1st Floor), HA9 0FJ
Wednesday 20 May, 5.30pm – 8pm

All sessions are free, with food provided, and open to everyone.

Kibibi Octave, Director of Community Development, said: “Knife crime devastates lives, families and communities, but it is preventable. By expanding access to life-saving equipment and giving residents the confidence to act in an emergency, we are taking practical steps to keep people safe.

“We encourage everyone to get involved, whether that’s attending a training session, having conversations with young people, or supporting the wider message that violence is never the answer.”

A free Trauma to Triumph event for young people will take place at Boxpark Wembley on Friday 22 May, from 2pm to 8pm. Bringing together local partners, the event will create space for young people to connect, hear real stories, and explore positive choices, reinforcing the message that knife crime is preventable.

And a free online training session for professionals working with young people will take place on Thursday 21 May from 10am to 12pm, providing expert-led insight into local knife crime and serious youth violence. The session will be led by local community safety partners.