As part of the nationwide #KnifeFree campaign, SNAP Dance – a nightclub event for 12 to 15-year-olds – is being held at Bedford Corn Exchange on Thursday 17 October to help tackle the spread of serious youth violence.
Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists, KNE will be taking part, alongside DJs from In2Beats, dancers from Dance Vybz and the founder of Dynamic Decisions, Channitta Lendore, whose 19-year-old brother Isaac Stone was fatally stabbed in Bedford in 2014.
The not-for-profit event is being organised by Bedfordshire Police’s chief inspector Rachael Glendenning, and will be a safe environment for young people to have a good time and make new friends.
Tickets have been sent to all secondary schools and Pilgrims Housing Association have purchased tickets on behalf of their social housing tenants.
“Knife crime and serious youth violence is a growing issue,” said CI Glendenning. “Everyone is vulnerable to this sweeping epidemic.
“I’m so excited by this event and by the partners we’re working with. We want SNAP Dance to be really interactive so that we can hear the views of young people in an informal environment while they’re having fun.
“To be more approachable, my colleagues and I will be out of uniform on the day, wearing #KnifeFree t-shirts. We’ll also have a #KnifeFree selfie frame and KNE will be posing for selfies.”
“We are in full support of the SNAP Dance event,” said Terry-Ann of In2Beats radio station.
“It aims to provide a place for young people to come together, socialise and enjoy music in a safe environment.
“Bedford’s young people desperately need a safe, suitable and appealing place to go without fear of gang threat or knife crime.”
Tickets for SNAP Dance are £12 and all ticket holders will be entered into a raffle with prizes including a DJ session at In2Beats radio station, a dance lesson with KNE, a voucher to Vue cinema, Gallones ice cream voucher and more.
Free refreshments at the cashless event have been provided by sponsors, Tesco and Bookers are providing sweets.
Money from ticket sales will be ploughed back into the force’s youth violence education programme and the hope is that regular SNAP Dance events will take place in the future.
“This is the blueprint now,” said CI Glendenning. “We can roll the SNAP Dance initiative out throughout the county around different educational needs, be they knife crime, drug use or gangs.”
Tickets to SNAP Dance are available now.
