The National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, commonly known as the Knife Angel, has brought local representatives together to celebrate success and agree plans of action.
Representatives from Bolton Council and partners gathered at Bolton Lads and Girls Club (BLGC), along with school children and community groups, to hear about the success of the programme.
A thought-provoking showcase of work from the community groups captivated the audience and reflected on the monument perfectly.
But the stars of the show were the young people who wrote and performed poems and raps sharing their own thoughts and experiences.
Hosted by Cllr Rabiya Jiva, the afternoon saw The Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Nick Peel, talking about how the good work mustn’t stop now the Knife Angel has departed.
Chief Executive of BLGC, Emma Hutchinson, also shared her thoughts on the effective partnership working and how fantastic it is to see young people getting involved.
The Knife Angel came to Bolton on 1st November and started off a number of positive conversations about reducing violence and aggressive behaviour.
Standing at 27 feet tall, made from over 100,000 nationally seized blades and weighing over three tonnes, its aim was to highlight the negative effects all forms of violent behaviour has on communities.
In addition to raising awareness about better ways of solving disputes and conflict, the statue served as a memorial to those who lost their lives through violent and thoughtless actions.
The public came together to welcome the monument and throughout November have tied ribbons to the fencing to remember loved ones.
Now the Knife Angel has resumed its journey around the UK, project leaders are urging people to carry on the good work.
Executive Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Cllr Rabiya Jiva, said:
“I was proud to lead the closing ceremony and it was an honour to witness such moving performances, I can only imagine the amount of work that had gone into them.
“To see a plethora of projects being displayed to help educate and raise awareness of the harm that violence can cause is incredible.
“I’d like to thank everybody involved, you’ve done Bolton proud and I am looking forward to seeing the legacy work of the Knife Angel.”
Chief Executive of BLGC, Emma Hutchinson, said:
“It has been a privilege to be part of such a great cultural event for the town throughout the month of November.
“The local community has produced some spectacular artwork, music, spoken word and images in response to the sculpture and it was fantastic to be able to showcase and celebrate this at Infinity as part of the closing ceremony.
“BLGC will look forward to playing our part in carrying forward the legacy of this event in future years”.
If you are a young person and would like to be part of social change then become an Anti-Violence Champion and support the national campaign in Bolton.
For more information please visit www.bolton.gov.uk/knifeangelbolton