Projects Engage Children on Loss and Knife Crime Awareness

Local schools participate in initiatives addressing bereavement and knife crime

School pupils in Bradford and surrounding areas have recently taken part in two educational projects designed to help them understand and discuss sensitive topics such as bereavement and the realities of knife crime. These initiatives, led by the University of Bradford in collaboration with local schools and organisations, aim to foster awareness and open dialogue among young people.

Exploring Bereavement Through Art and Poetry

The ‘Lost and Found: Bereavement, Archaeology and Creativity’ project is working with primary school children to encourage conversations about death, loss, and bereavement. At Wycliffe CE Primary School in Shipley, pupils from years one to six created artwork that reflects their experiences and feelings related to loss. The artwork was displayed in the school gym and included hand outlines filled with sketches, words, and phrases about loved ones or pets who have died.

Children also collaborated on images of trees, writing messages on leaves about what they would say to someone who is grieving or what they would like to hear themselves. The project draws on archaeology-inspired art and poetry to facilitate these discussions.

Professor Karina Croucher, who leads the project, highlighted the importance of addressing these topics with children to avoid negative impacts associated with suppressed conversations. The project is moving towards creating an online resource to support teachers in discussing death and bereavement in the classroom.

Chris Holdsworth, Interim Head of School at Wycliffe CE Primary School, noted that the project aligns with the school’s values and has helped pupils explore their emotions around death.

Project Partners and Funding

• The project is a collaboration between the University of Bradford, the Universities of Wolverhampton and Manchester, Child Bereavement UK, and the Child Bereavement Network.
• It is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
• Workshops have also taken place at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Sale, Manchester.
• The 10-month project began in September 2025 and includes new poems by author Michael Rosen.

Knife Crime Awareness Through Junior Detectives Week

In a separate initiative, the University of Bradford partnered with West Yorkshire Police and local schools to raise awareness of knife crime among teenagers. Junior Detectives Week, held from 2 February, involved year eight pupils from schools across the Bradford district, including Carlton Bolling, Hanson Academy, Beckfoot Oakbank, and Co-op Academy Grange.

During the week, pupils took part in a mock investigation of a stabbing incident on the University campus. Guided by real Crime Scene Investigation officers, the students searched for evidence at a simulated crime scene located in the university’s student bar, Below One.

The programme also included meetings with police officers, NHS trauma surgeons, and speakers with lived experience. The week concluded with a visit to Bradford Crown Court, where the pupils observed a mock trial based on the case they investigated. Participants were recognised as ‘anti-knife crime champions’ for their involvement.

Context and Statistics

According to the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, there were 3,200 knife or offensive weapon offences committed by children resulting in a caution or sentence in the year ending March 2024. This represents a six per cent decrease from the previous year but is a 20 per cent increase compared to ten years earlier.

Dr Alex Surtees, Lecturer in Forensic Science at the University of Bradford, described the week as an immersive experience covering various aspects of knife crime, including policing, forensics, and mental health.