Creative city

NewBigin Community Trust is an asset-based organisation in Winson Green, seeking to provide a place of welcome, inclusion, and social cohesion for the local community.

Their Smashing Metal Knives project with the blacksmithing group Smashing Metal has been using surrendered knives from West Midlands Police to take the issue of knife crime and literally smash it and transform it into something positive.

Smashing Metal Knives provides role models and mentors to people and encouraging peer mentoring, focussing on the journey and experience of participants as well as the physical outcomes, including the process and manufacturing element in terms of broadening thinking around careers and next steps for participants.

The project has had a huge impact on young members and the local community by giving the opportunity to learn new skills and help stop the spread of knife crime.

Find out more about NewBigin Community Trust in the video below.