South Thames College, in partnership with Wandsworth City Learning Centre and Wandsworth Schools has launched a unique campaign to address the potent issue of gun and knife crime which has devastated communities across South London in recent months.

LIFEWISE is an innovative anti-gun and knife crime collaboration involving over 200 young people from South Thames College, Wandsworth City Learning Centre and 6 secondary schools across the London Borough of Wandsworth.

Since the project launched in October the students have been working jointly in their schools and at the local City Learning Centre on a range of curriculum based projects incorporating music, performing arts, media, business studies, art and design and health and social care, to demonstrate their commitment to finding joint solutions to violent crime.

Over the course of LIFEWISE students have produced a theatre production (which will be toured around schools and community groups); written, mixed and produced a professionally mastered CD of original music tracks incorporating anti-violent lyrical content and filmed video promos, and produced an action plan to tackle the social cohesion problems that can contribute to violent crime. The project name ‘LIFEWISE’ and accompanying logo design was also created by students.

The project has been supported by a programme of seminars, workshops visits and speakers involving figures from across music, media and social services.
The college has also secured funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSN) to enhance the students experience and information sharing during the project via the use of innovative mobile technologies.

Commenting on the LIFEWISE campaign Mary Zinovieff, Head of Creative Industries and 14-16 Programmes at South Thames College said: “This project marks a really positive step in our drive to raise awareness and engagement amongst young people and promote positive life style choices and greater social engagement.

“Through this project, the students have been given a voice to actively contribute to the debate and propose relevant, creative strategies for tackling an issue that has touched many of our young people personally".

“The unique element of this project is that it is completely student led, by the students for the students. I’m extremely proud to have been involved in this exciting collaboration and look forward to seeing the students come together to share their hard work at City Hall”.