Open day to Launch First Veteran Owned Mobile Knife Amnesty Van

A TEAM of former service personnel - who have been using their own lived experiences to mentor and educate young people to steer away from crime - are now set to take their expertise out on the road.

Black Onyx Academy is the high-tier specialist training provider arm of security firm - Black Onyx Concepts - who have been providing programmes Save A Life Today (S.A.L.T. ®) and Operation Mindset to young people and businesses across Stoke-on-Trent for the last two years.

S.A.L.T.® is an initiative delivered in community-led organisations, schools, universities and academies, with the aim of combatting knife crime and response training to identify risks and implement preventative strategies. 

Operation Mindset is a high-impact workshop for young people aged 11-16, which draws on military principle and experiences and focuses on essential life skills, discipline, leadership and resilience.

The Academy are looking to expand their programmes to more organisations in Stone and Staffordshire this year, and are also now set to take their work one step further with a Mobile Knife Amnesty Van following a partnership with Bri-Stor Systems - who are part of The HEX Group - and agreed to convert the vehicle, which saw a team of apprentices carrying out the work.

“Many of us spent years serving our country and leading people in some of the most challenging environments imaginable,”

said Stef Northfield, Strategic Lead at Black Onyx Academy and former Royal Marine.

“As veterans, we understand the importance of leadership, accountability, resilience and service. Through initiatives such as S.A.L.T.® and Operation Mindset, we are taking those lessons into our communities and using our lived experience to mentor the next generation.

“We’re helping young people build confidence, recognise their strengths and realise their potential, while providing positive pathways that steer them away from violence and anti-social behaviour.”

Black Onyx Academy will be revealing the Mobile Knife Amnesty Van for the first time at a special event taking place at The Hex Group, in Stafford on Friday 10 July, which the general public are welcome to attend.

Stef added: 

“Our next step in reaching more people and communities is by going out on the road with the Mobile Knife Amnesty Van - which represents far more than a place to surrender weapons.

“It’s a highly visible symbol of prevention, education and community action and will provide us with the opportunity to have open and meaningful conversations with young people, families and communities. Thanks to our friends at Bri-Stor & The HEX Group, we’re going to be revealing it for the first time on Friday 10 July, during an open day, and we are encouraging members of the public to come along and learn more about what we will be doing.”

Dave Smith, Operations Director at Bri-Stor (part of The HEX Group), said:

“Here at Bri-Stor Systems, we’re proud to be supporting this important community initiative in Staffordshire, working alongside Black Onyx Academy to help create a safer environment for all.

“By transforming the vehicle into a secure mobile knife amnesty unit, with a purpose-designed layout including integrated storage and seating, we’re helping to enable meaningful conversations to happen where they’re needed most.

“We’ve also wrapped the van to ensure it’s highly visible within the community, helping raise awareness and encourage engagement wherever it’s deployed within the county.

“We believe our expertise should go beyond vehicles and extend into the communities they serve. This project is a great example of how collaboration, education and practical solutions can come together to make a real difference.”

Black Onyx Academy have received support from local authorities and Staffordshire Police Force, who are working closely with the training organisation.

Chief Inspector David Barrow, who leads on knife crime from Staffordshire Police, said: 

“The launch of the mobile knife amnesty van is a really positive example of an innovative partnership approach to tackling knife crime.

"By working with partners, we are creating more opportunities to remove knives from our streets and support safer communities across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

“This initiative is about providing a simple, safe and accessible way for people to dispose of unwanted knives responsibly, reducing the risk of them being misused, stolen, or finding their way into public spaces.

“The van will support our wider work to prevent knife crime, protect young people, and reduce serious violence by making it easier for communities to take practical action and help keep people safe.

Sir Gavin Williamson CBE MP - Member of Parliament for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge - is also supporting the initiative and said: 

“It was fantastic to meet the team at Black Onyx and to hear more about the S.A.L.T.®  initiative which I have no doubt will continue to be effective in teaching the dangers of carrying knives, community engagement, and ultimately saving lives.

"There are many reasons why young people feel pressurised to carry knives. Many may be in a position where they no longer want to due to lived experience or a desire to change their outlook, however, they worry about the repercussions. Therefore, a mobile knife amnesty van is a fantastic way to discard bladed articles without fear of consequence.

"I very much look forward to working with the team moving forward.”

Black Onyx Academy will be revealing the Mobile Knife Amnesty Van on Friday 10 July, at The HEX Group Pasturefields Lane, Hixon, Stafford ST18 0PH. The van is then set to out into the community from the end of July.

For more information please contact Stef Northfield at Black Onyx Academy by emailing  stef@blackonyxacademy.com or telephone: 07944848381

Visit Black Onyx Academy here