Funds are being raised to create a new piece of artwork created from knives handed in at local amnesty bins. 

The project, led by Reading Amnesty Art, will see recovered weapons and blades from the town’s surrender points melted down and turned into something positive. 

A final design has not been settled on yet, but artists and members of the community will come together to draw up ideas for a structure that represents peace, serenity and hope for future generations. 

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The idea for a new piece of artwork comes following a number of tragic local incidents involving knives over the past two years, including the fatal stabbing of Olly Stephens at Bugs Bottom park in January 2021. 

Stuart Stephens, Olly’s father, has been working with Kelly Reed from Thames Valley Police's violence reduction unit to ensure the town can learn about the dangers of knife crime through a number of measures, including art.

University of Reading art students approached the TVP officer with ideas and discussions culminated in a proposal to use surrender knives for a piece of art. 

Stuart said: “The sculpture will have a permanent placement in Reading, hopefully. 

“The idea behind it is to remember our fallen youth but also instigate educational packages, crime prevention and bring youth service agencies together with our youth and vulnerable.”

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Kelly Reed explained how she helped come up with the idea. 

She said: "I developed the ideas for #ReadingAmnestyArt after listening to Stuart Stephens explaining the benefits of bringing the community together to talk about the issues related to knife crime.  

"Stuart had seen an art installation using knives in the London area and explained that the events and crowds that visited the installation were a positive opportunity to bring community members together to challenge the perceptions that surround the social media-influenced knife crime issues among young people.

"Both Amanda and Stuart Stephens, members of the Reading Knife Crime Forum, have fully supported the Reading-based project which will use recovered amnesty weapons and knives (from the community amnesty bins and the police amnesty bins) smelted down and formed into a sculpture that will symbolise peace, hope and serenity, its design will be co-produced by members of the local community.

"There will also be accessible information at the statue regarding the realities of knife crime and where to seek support. The project is receiving lots of support from the local community.

"It’s a unique and exciting way to bring together ideas from the community in order to raise awareness around the issues of carrying knives.  

"This is particularly relevant to the community of Reading as since 2019. It has seen the tragic loss of lives through knife-enabled homicide and the community is a key part in helping to reduce the fear of knife crime and improve feelings of safety in Reading.  

"The statue's final location is yet to be confirmed but it will be in a prominent place where people can access it."

A fundraiser has been set up to help Reading Amnesty Art set up their knife-based project with the goal of raising £15,000 for the proposal. 

So far, £505 has been raised with 37 days to go. 

A comment on the organisers’ fundraising page read: “This sculpture will become an important piece of community-made public art and form part of Reading’s proud and varied history of Art and Culture for future generations to see.

“This project is part of a self-healing community approach to changing the narrative around knife carrying.”

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