Canning Town knife project celebrates fifth anniversary

A project launched to tackle the growing menace of knife crime and gang activity will be celebrating its fifth anniversary with a basketball event.

The Carry A Basketball Not a Blade was launched five years ago by the young player of Newham All Star Sports Academy, NASSA, to tackle the growing issues of knife crime, gang activity and anti-social behaviour.

Now, the project will mark its fifth anniversary on Monday at Rokeby School in Canning Town with an event that will include a basketball tournament and a series of workshops run by the police.

East Ham MP Stephen Timms and Newham Borough Commander Rob Jones are among the VIPs and project partners expected to attend.

Natasha Hart, director of NASSA, said : “The success of the project has been phenomenal and it has impacted on the lives of many young people.

“NASSA has worked with hundreds of young people and has developed a unique, highly successful community programme that is delivered in 41 schools across Newham with over 2000 young people per week attending extra-curricular basketball sessions.

“We have achieved a 2012 Inspire Mark for Sport, England Basketball Club Mark 5 star Accreditation.”