On 26 March 2025, we gathered at the Ministry of Praise Church to celebrate and reflect on the achievements of our violence prevention project, Home Cooked in Northumberland Park.

It was brilliant to be joined for the evening by people from so many different sectors across Haringey, including local grassroots organisations, members of the police and health services, our partners, and young people themselves. Together, we connected, reflected on all that had been achieved, and looked ahead to the next stage of the programme. 

The evening began with a presentation from the Bridge Home Cooked Team, highlighting the achievements of the Home Cooked Consortium. In the last 12 months together, we have supported:

• 1,013 young people around the impact of knife crime at local schools and colleges 
• 60 young people to receive intensive 1-1 mentoring to build their confidence and stay engaged in education
• 45 parents and carers to receive Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) training and SEND guidance to help them better manage their children's challenging behaviours
• 10 fathers and their sons have received restorative support, helping to strengthen their relationships and improve communication
• 11 young people with dedicated emotional well-being, supporting them to build their resilience and handle personal challenges more constructively.
• 57 professionals through cross-agency working, improving local knowledge and coordination in youth support and safety

It was a powerful evening, with the speakers bringing home to the audience all the different ways the project is helping to improve the lives of young people in the area. 

Yvonne Lawson (pictured) from the Godwin Lawson Foundation spoke powerfully about the work they have been doing to improve knife awareness in schools and colleges. Eduardo from North London Partnership Consortium shared about the impact their employment programme has had on the lives of young people who have experience or involvement with the criminal justice system. Cami, a Young Person's Worker at Mind in Haringey, highlighted the importance of mental health support, and the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation outlined the powerful role sport can play in improving young people's lives. Lastly, the importance of family interventions provided by Father2Father was highlighted as a key factor in improving outcomes for young people.

To end the night, attendees were treated to an electrifying performance by Kiki from DJ Academy, who delivered an amazing rap about her life, summing up what the evening was about perfectly.