St Saviours Primary School, Ellesmere Port
The Blades Down assembly was really informative and interesting. It helped that the lady leading the assembly is a teacher, so she was effective at behaviour control and answering an appropriate number of questions to make sure children felt heard, but the topic was kept to! The subject matter was dealt with with care, and without additional details that made it appropriate for both Year 5 and 6. The pledge resource for us to do in school with the classes that attended was a helpful link to remind children of the assembly the next day, and to prompt any further discussions that needed to occur as a result of the assembly. I Hodgson, Year 5 teacher
Whitby Heath Primary School, Ellesmere Port
We thoroughly enjoyed having Danni join us for a Blades down assembly with Y5 and 6 pupils. She made it incredibly informative yet engaging for the children who had lots of questions and suggestions. She was able to pitch the information correctly so that children did not feel scared but were able to think about their own actions in the future. Children have since been enthusiastic about wanting to join the boxing clubs Danni mentioned, downloading apps to help and have shared information about the bleed kits with their family’s. Elyse Harland, Year 5 Teacher
The Oaks Primary School, Ellesmere Port
We were delighted to welcome Danni from Blades Down CIC to deliver an assembly to our Year 6 pupils on the dangers of knife crime. Her presentation was powerful, engaging, and age-appropriate—striking exactly the right balance between honesty and sensitivity. Danni’s ability to connect with the children was clear from the outset. She spoke with authenticity and compassion, helping our pupils understand the very real consequences of knife crime while also empowering them to make safe, positive choices. The session sparked meaningful conversations both in school and at home, which is exactly what we hoped for. As a headteacher, I’m incredibly grateful for organisations like Blades Down CIC who are making such an important difference in young lives. I would wholeheartedly recommend their work to other schools. David Wearing, Headteacher
Woodlands Primary School, Ellesmere Port
We were fortunate to welcome Blades Down to our school to deliver a series of workshops for our Year 5 and 6 pupils, focusing on the crucial topics of knife crime, anti-social behaviour, county lines, and gang culture. Each of these challenging issues was addressed in a way that was entirely age-appropriate, ensuring that all pupils were able to engage meaningfully and thoughtfully. The primary aim of the sessions was to educate our pupils about the dangers, risks, and long-term consequences associated with these issues. Importantly, the sessions also created space for open discussion, allowing children to share their thoughts, ask questions, and develop a deeper understanding of how to make safe and positive choices in their lives. We are pleased to say that these aims were fully achieved. The children were particularly captivated by Danni, who led the sessions and shared her powerful personal story. A local high school teacher, Danni has a close connection to our community and to a tragic knife crime incident that took place just streets away from our school. Her authenticity and passion made a lasting impression on our pupils. She spoke with honesty and sensitivity, answering the children’s questions in a way that was always respectful of their age and emotional development. The pupils felt safe, respected, and truly listened to throughout the experience. The impact of the workshops was clear to see. Pupils left with a stronger sense of awareness and responsibility, and many continued to reflect on what they had learned in the days and weeks that followed. Our Year 5 children were so inspired that they chose to include their learning from the Blades Down sessions in their class assembly for parents. They also wrote thoughtful and moving poems, demonstrating both their understanding and emotional response to the subject matter. We are incredibly grateful to Blades Down and to Danni for delivering such meaningful, relevant, and impactful sessions. The workshops have had a lasting positive impact on our pupils and have helped equip them with knowledge and tools to make safer, wiser choices in the future. L. Tyrer, Upper Key Stage 2 Lead – English Lead
Meadow Primary School, Ellesmere Port
We had considered offering education around knife crime for some time, but had not found anything that we felt was age appropriate for primary aged children until we came across Blades Down. Danni presented difficult information in a sensitive and engaging manner. The children were attentive and responded positively. The sessions provided an opportunity for children to ask questions and explore strategies to support them when dealing with potential conflict in the community. The children felt that the sessions were informative and helpful, and the majority of children said that they felt better prepared and less anxious. Sarah Curtis, Headteacher