Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LTH) continued its commitment to community safety by supporting Knife Savers training at the Foxton Centre in Preston.
Building on the success of previous sessions, the Trust again partnered with Knife Savers - an NHS-backed, not-for-profit initiative designed to equip young people with the skills and confidence to save lives in critical situations.
The project aims to deliver vital education across Lancashire, helping young people understand the realities of knife crime and how immediate action can make the difference between life and death. Originally founded in Merseyside, the initiative is now expanding its reach across Lancashire with the support of LTH teams.
Last year, staff helped deliver a successful training event at Preston North End’s Deepdale Stadium, which engaged more than 40 young people and was delivered by a dedicated team from the Royal Preston Hospital's Emergency Department, including ED Consultant Dr Andrew Rennie, Dr Michael Rosser, Associate Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Director for Resuscitation, and Emergency Department Navigator Shamim Hussain.
The programme continues to gain momentum, with this latest session at the Foxton Centre being attended by Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire Clive Grunshaw, community leaders and BBC Radio Lancashire's Graham Liver, with several Emergency Department nurses, doctors and healthcare assistants providing training.
Knife crime continues to have a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities. Every incident creates lasting trauma, leaving ripple effects that can change lives forever.
Figures from the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network reveal there were a total of 187 knife crime offences in Preston between July 2025 and June this year - with figures going down quarterly from 61 (July to September 2025), to 48 (October to December 2025), then falling further to 41 (January to March 2026) and 37 (April to June 2026).
Of these 187 offences, the victim was under 25 in 51 cases, and under 18 in 27.
Knife Savers addresses this challenge through prevention, education and early intervention. The programme is trauma-informed and focuses on empowering young people with both knowledge and practical skills.
Participants learn key life-saving messages, including:
- A person can bleed to death in under five minutes
- Immediate action in the first few minutes of an emergency can save lives
Training focuses on simple but critical steps to control catastrophic bleeding, ensuring participants can help keep someone alive until professional medical care arrives.
Sessions provide practical, hands-on experience using lifelike training models, allowing participants to practice techniques in realistic scenarios. This approach builds confidence and ensures young people are prepared to act in high-pressure situations.
Shamim Hussain said: “Knife Savers training is about empowering young people with the skills and confidence to act in critical moments – because quick, informed action can save lives and strengthen our communities.”
Feedback from attendees and partner organisations has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the importance and impact of the programme across the community.
The initiative has also received a significant boost through funding of £11,040 from the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). This funding supports the purchase of advanced training equipment, further enhancing the quality and reach of sessions.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire Clive Grunshaw added: “It was great to see Knife Savers training in action, with such strong engagement from participants. Whilst police and partners are working tirelessly to prevent knife crime from occurring in the first place, we must ensure that as many people as possible are aware of how to react when faced with a knife incident.
“Knife crime has devastating consequences. One incident can have a ripple effect across entire communities. Knife Savers training helps tackle this impact by giving people practical, hands-on skills that could save lives."
Knife Savers’ work in Lancashire is strengthened through collaboration with a wide range of partners, including healthcare teams, local authorities, schools, and police initiatives such as Operation Sceptre.
With growing demand from schools and community organisations, LTH teams are now scaling up delivery to reach even more young people across the county.
A key element of the programme is the rollout of Knife Savers Bleeding Control Packs across Lancashire. These kits provide immediate access to high-quality emergency equipment in public spaces, ensuring communities are better prepared to respond to serious incidents.
LTH is committed to working alongside partners to deliver training, support organisations, and equip communities with essential life-saving skills.
By empowering young people with knowledge and practical tools, the Trust and Knife Savers are helping to build safer communities - where individuals feel confident to act and potentially save lives.
Organisations, schools, and community groups interested in delivering Knife Savers training can get in touch to arrange a session. For more information, please contact: Shamim Hussain, Emergency Department Navigator, Safeguarding Team at Shamim.Hussain@lthtr.nhs.uk
