Exclusive: ‘Nobody is helping our youth and they are dying everyday on the streets. It’s time that we do something ourselves to save our children’

Havering bereaved parents to host special knife crime meeting ‘Save Our Children From Knife Crime’ in desperate bid to save our youth.

Two bereaved mothers who lost their sons to knife crime are holding a special meeting to help save our youth from knife crime. Peguy Kato and Sue Hedges have both dedicated their lives to battling the horrors of knife crime. Peguy lost her son Champion Ganda and now runs the charity -All Champions Charity in memory of Champion. Sue lost her son Ricky Hayden and now runs the Ricky Hayden Memorial in memory of Ricky.

The two mums will unite again to hold this meeting and discussion event where members of the community are invited to attend and share their concerns about their children’s safety.

Yesterday in Birmingham a 12 year old boy was stabbed to death and just two weeks ago that a 14 year old boy lost his life on the streets of London.

Knife crime is rampant and an epidemic on our streets and one that is not being tackled by those in authority.

“Nobody cares about knife crime or our youth,” says Peguy. “We have campaigned for so many years and made our voices heard, but who actually cares? The results and the continuous deaths speak for themselves. There are many things those in authority could be doing to stop these awful attacks, but they don’t as they are not interested.

“We have been to so many places to campaign and speak with endless people. They all promise and no one delivers. Empty promises that is all we get.

“It is time we work with our youth to save them from knife crime. We need to listen to them, understand what is going, what they are faced with. It is hard to be a teenager today. These children are scared. Too scared to look at someone the wrong way and a fight breaks out. Too scared to wear nice clothes in case they get robbed. Many watch their parents struggle to put food on the table. The issues they are faced with is endless. Life is hard for these children. We as parents need to take time to sit down and listen to them and understand what is happening in their lives.”

Both mothers have worked sided by side with Courtney Barrett from Binning Knives Saves Lives and travelled across London to talk with youths, parents, politicians and all members of the community in a bid to stop these horrors.

“Truthfully we are fed up now of dealing with those in authority as we all know what they say and what they do are two completely different things,” says Sue. “We meet and chat and hope that they will listen to us and they don’t.

“This is why this meeting will give us the chance to work with our community and chat with local families who are scared for their children and the awful world they are growing up in. London is violent and the streets are not safe for our youths. They don’t feel safe. We know that there are many areas run by gangs and youths are scared to go into different post code areas in fear of being stabbed.

“There is no deterrent, nothing that makes them not want to carry a knife, so it continues.

“Our police officers do the best that they can but it’s not something we can just place in the police’s lap, it has to be right across the board and it clearly isn’t.”

The meeting will take place in Harold Hill but the date is yet to be announced.

“Please-let us work together now to save our youth. Do not let knife crime come knocking on your door because if it does, it will be too late,” finishes Peguy.

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