Actor Idris Elba champions football to combat knife crime in London, urging other industries to offer similar support.
Elba believes football offers valuable life skills and could even lead to coaching careers. He told Sky News about football’s power, highlighting the Premier League as a good example. Other industries should offer mentorships and apprenticeships to help young people, as not every kid wants to play football.
Elba urges big companies, including those in tech and auto, to help youths. The Premier League has already invested over £90m in the Kicks program over two decades, focusing on reducing violence. The need is highlighted by teen stabbings in London, where ten died last year and one this year.
Elba launched “Don’t Stop Your Future” last year, a campaign calling for action on knife crime. He spoke about messaging young people, saying groups around football should condemn knife crime and that asking young folks about their feelings is important to start a conversation about their lives.
Elba spoke with young players, coaches, and community leaders about knife crime, emphasizing that talking more helps. He hopes football can play a bigger role and is working with police to fight these issues, as evidenced by the police commander speaking at the Kicks program.
The police commander stated that not enough feels done, even though changing a few people can make a big difference. He advocates for more youth services investment, which helps make a bigger difference, clarifying more police can help through enforcement. The effort requires helping address the root cause, saying solving problems through coaches and mentors is key.
Football wants to prevent tragedies, and West Ham’s captain agreed with this prevention. He believes programs get kids off the streets, helping them find a sense of purpose in their lives. He believes it also teaches good mental and physical habits as well as social skills, such as teamwork and friendships.