The VVU continues to support teachers with resources about knife harm, following results of our 2025 Listening Project that shows knife crime is still the biggest worry for young people in Essex.
Our resources, designed for use in secondary schools, for pupils from year 8 onwards, can be accessed at Knife Harm Resources – Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit .
The lesson plans should be used sequentially and discuss topics such as the psychology of decision making and influence, the importance of a good network of friends and trusted adults, as well as teaching about knife crime, gangs and making decisions within risky situations.
The VVU worked with The Training Effect to create these lesson plans based on feedback from teachers and those in the education sector.
We know from feedback from schools that they support teachers to introduce what can be a difficult conversation, and through this provoke good discussions and support pupils to think about knife harm in a supportive and open environment.